The Mating Habits of Stags

`A taut, spare story of survival that turns on its heel to become something altogether braver, rarer and more precious' - Melissa Harrison; 'A gritty Northern noir, it's a book about love, loss, grief, revenge and lust, and it's just got this brooding and intense atmosphere to it, so you can't stop reading it. Highly recommended' - Simon Savidge; 'A stunning novel. Ray Robinson is a wonderful writer. Raw, lyrical, and intensely moving' - Essie Fox

Midwinter. As former farmhand Jake, a widower in his seventies, wanders the beautiful, austere moors of North Yorkshire trying to evade capture, we learn of the events of his past: the wife he loved and lost, their child he knows cannot be his, and the deep-seated need for revenge that manifests itself in a moment of violence. On the coast, Jake's friend, Sheila, receives the devastating news. The aftermath of Jake's actions, and what it brings to the surface, will change her life forever. But how will she react when he turns up at her door? As beauty and tenderness blend with violence, this story transports us to a different world, subtly exploring love and loss in a language that both bruises and heals.