Following a family tragedy, Jessie Noon moved from the Fens to the Midlands and now lives in the Scottish Borders with a cat, a dog and - she is convinced - a ghost in the spare room. Her husband walked out almost a year ago, leaving a note written in steam on the bathroom mirror, and Jessie hasn't seen her son for years.

Translator Jessie agonises over the correct words when she receives messages saying 'I'm on my way home' in the aftermath of her son going missing and her husband's absconsion in this atmospheric exploration of the power of language from the Man Booker-nominated author.