Freeing Grace

A tender and thought-provoking story exploring the sacrifices we make for family and what it takes to be a good parent. Grace's teenage mother dies shortly after giving birth and the perfect adoptive parents are found for her: David, the curate of an inner-city parish, and his wife Leila, who are unable to have children of their own. What they don't count on is Matt Harrison, Grace's shell-shocked young father who falls in love with his daughter and fights to keep her. The Harrisons are an unconventional family who see in Grace a chance for redemption. To convince the courts of their suitability will require a commitment from Matt's mother to return from Africa to her unhappy marriage. The Harrisons enlist their friend, the feckless, charming Jake Kelly, to retrieve her and he sets off on a quest that will force a confrontation. Ultimately, there are terrible decisions to be made about Grace's fate. Everyone only wants what's best for her - but who can say exactly what that is?

Charity Norman is an ex-barrister who lives in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is the author of eight novels. After the Fall (2012) was a Richard and Judy Book Club choice and World Book Night title; Remember Me (2022) won the 2023 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Novel. Previous novels include two BBC Radio 2 Book Club picks - bestseller The Secrets of Strangers (2020) and The New Woman (2015) - and have been shortlisted for both the Ngaio Marsh and Ned Kelly Awards.