'Preston's debut arrives like a punch to the gut . . . This is an elemental tale shaded in tones of heroism, machismo, moral intensity, and mythmaking. It's also a love song to the landscape . . . Gritty, gripping, and fearlessly committed' Kirkus
'Taught, intelligent and beautifully told' M. J. Hyland
'A startlingly original addition to the literature of northern England' Ian McGuire
'A powerful evocation of a landscape and a way of life' Joseph Kanon
With foot and mouth disease spreading across the hills of Cumbria, emptying the valleys of sheep and filling the skies with smoke, two neighbouring shepherds lose everything and put aside their rivalry to join forces. They set their sights on a wealthy farm in the south with its flock of prize-winning animals. So begins the dark tale of Steve Elliman and William Herne.
Their sheep rustling leads to more and more difficult decisions, and Steve's only distraction is his gro
