The Mermaid and the Drunks

Fresia, the daughter of Chilean exiles, leaves London following the suicide of her father to embark on a journey of self-discovery in her mother country. She meets Joe, a Scottish academic on a research trip, and Roberto, a wealthy local. The shadow of Pinochet and his legacy provide the backdrop to this novel which examines nationality, belonging and roots, friendship and loyalty, and, of course, love. THE MERMAID AND THE DRUNKS takes its title from a poem by Pablo Neruda.