Ailsa Mellor 
From West Yorkshire to East Berlin 

This is the story of the Jagger family. At its heart is Jack Jagger, the proud paterfamilias born at the turn of the twentieth century whose childhood is dramatically cut short after his father, a talented barber dies unexpectedly, leaving behind a secret that gets into the wrong hands.

Years later, with a burgeoning, creative career and a family of his own, Jack has everything he hoped for. But in a world that is constantly changing, what does it mean to lead a successful, meaningful life? When Jack meets the enigmatic Giles Illingworth, Jack is finally confronted with his past when what he thought was buried resurfaces again. Everything that is familiar unexpectedly falls apart and Jack is faced with the greatest test of his life: the question of whether blood really is thicker than water, creating a devastating family rift with repercussions that reverberate for decades.

This is a story about what it means to be human. It is also a story about grief, forgiveness, loyalty, second chances and why it is never too late to start again.