Instructions for a Heatwave

In the summer of 1976, an oppressive, record-breaking heatwave descends upon London. Against this backdrop of sweltering tension, Robert Riordan walks out of his suburban home to buy a packet of cigarettes and never returns. His sudden, inexplicable disappearance throws his entire family into chaos.

Grown-up siblings Michael, Aoife, and Gregory, alongside their mother Gretta, are forced to return to the family home and confront the ghosts of their past while desperately searching for answers in the scorching present.

The novel explores the long-held secrets and uncomfortable truths that surface when the protective barrier of routine is abruptly shattered. It is a powerful and atmospheric examination of family loyalty, love, and the emotional heat that has been building beneath the surface for decades. (132 words)