Far from Winter

Professional photographer Simon travels to Italy with his daughter Romy to scatter the ashes of his deceased ex-wife Carla in the sea. That same day a mysterious sum of money is paid into his bank account. While he attempts to find out where the money has come from, his daughter tries to get closer to him, after long years of emotional distance that arose during her adolescence, caused by her congenital disability. By mysterious means, as if he's being sucked into a spy film, Simon discovers that he’s trapped in a parallel life. In his other life he took an adventure holiday, or a journey into his parallel life, and as a result of unforeseen circumstances it lasted longer than intended. The money serves as compensation for the fact that he cannot return to his former life. Along with Romy, he goes in search of a way out.

Against the background of these events, a disturbing international conflict rages after the death of a Chinese astronaut, and a civil war breaks out in the south of the United States. ‘Far From Winter’ has all the elements of a thrilling science-fiction novel of the kind capable of throwing up profound, philosophical questions. Most of all, it revolves around one question: what if?

Stylistically this is once again a magnificent book by Terrin, full of mellifluous and arresting sentences, with a great eye for detail, so that the characters come to life as credible and fully rounded people.