Away From You by Melanie Finn

• The Free State Provincial Library Service, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Publisher of Nominated Edition
Penguin ISBN 0141015349

When Ellie's father dies she has to return to Kenya after twenty-five years to wind up his affairs. She becomes embroiled in trying to discover the secret at the heart of his life and her parents' marriage in 1960's Kenya. It was a time of keeping up appearances, stiff whiskies, English gardens amidst the African Bush, and reined in violence.

Told through three voices and set against the poignant backdrop of a changing Africa, this is a wonderfully atmospheric debut novel about fathers, daughters - and Africa.

Melanie Finn was born and raised in Kenya and educated in the United States. She has lived and worked on four continents as a journalist, screenwriter, ranch hand, documentary film-maker, ski bum and waitress. Away From You is her first novel.