"A novel set in the Devon countryside in England, in which a man, the son of a dairy farmer, has to cope with the recent death of his brother, a soldier in Iraq; repair his relationship with his wife; and cope with the complicated legacy of his family's past"-- Provided by publisher.

Marianne seeks a man who shares her eager spirit, Elinor is in love with the polite, considerate Edward Ferrars. Their younger sister Margaret watches in bewilderment as Marianne and Elinor experience the joys and heartaches of early adult life. Is Marianne too warm or is Elinor too cold? Whose example should Margaret follow? Margaret records the dangers presented by scheming friends and deceitful lovers. Will Elinor's sense be strong enough to support...

Presents three novels by Agatha Christie, written under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott between 1930 and 1956, including "Unfinished Portrait," "The Burden," and the title work about a daughter's opposition to her mother's plan to remarry.