Patrick Healy

Set in working class Newcastle, the Stott family fight their private battles against the backdrop of the conflict of World War II. Helen Stott, over thirty and with a limp, is resigned to being left on the shelf until she meets and falls in love with Norman, a serviceman from London. In contrast, her younger sister Joyce has quite a way with men, and finds herself a little too popular with the troops, especially when her husband pops up on leave from his regiment.

A serial killer targets young women wearing gold crosses; Detectives Lutz and Garner enlist Will Spanner to help with the occult angles of the case.

A cocky dot-commer hits rock bottom and has to patch his life together with what's at his disposal; a beach, a bus, some beer, and a burro. With the help of some surfers he learns to enjoy the here and now... wherever that may be.