Botanist James Thornberry is a successful writer. His life is well ordered until he meets Katherine Gaunt, an up-and-coming artist.

He becomes smitten with her at her debut exhibition and buys one of her paintings. He acquires another. He’s hooked…

On her paintings? Or on her?

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell.

Hugh Cornwell’s riveting first novel is a mesmerising story of love, obsession and madness – a brilliant exploration of the artistic process and the terrifying consequences of a compulsive and uncontrolled passion.