Celia Fremlin 3 Book Set Uncle Paul, The Hours Before Dawn, The Long Shadow

This three-book set brings together Uncle Paul, The Hours Before Dawn and The Long Shadow by Celia Fremlin. Across the collection, domestic life is disrupted by suspicion, strained relationships and the persistent feeling that appearances may be misleading.

The stories move from a seaside holiday where family history returns to the surface, to a household stretched by sleepless nights and the arrival of a troubling lodger, and finally to a widow forced to confront an accusation she struggles to understand. Each novel traces how quickly familiar routines can tip into uncertainty.

Included titles

• Uncle Paul
• The Hours Before Dawn
• The Long Shadow

Key details

• Three-book collection
• By Celia Fremlin
• Includes Uncle Paul, The Hours Before Dawn and The Long Shadow

Synopses

Uncle Paul

Isabel and her sister Meg spend a holiday at a seaside caravan resort with the children, filling their days with sandcastles, the pier and ice cream in the sun. Close by, their half-sister Mildred has returned to a coastal cottage after her husband, Uncle Paul, is arrested for the attempted murder of his first wife. As the break continues, long-buried family secrets begin to emerge.

The Hours Before Dawn

Louise is exhausted and desperate for sleep, worn down by children causing trouble, a crying baby and a husband who seems unaware of the pressure. Her unease deepens when the family takes in a new lodger who appears to share all her husband’s interests. Unsure whether her fears are justified, she questions what she can do and whether anyone would believe her.

The Long Shadow

Imogen is woken by a late-night telephone call and crosses her dark, empty house to answer it, only to hear a shocking accusation. A man insists she killed her husband, Ivor, who died in a car crash less than two months earlier. As the nights draw in, unexpected guests begin to arrive, and their intentions may not be limited to festive cheer.