The iron facade cover

The iron facade

by Catherine Cookson

Novelist Prudence Dudley seems to have it all when the news that her husband is a bigamist sends her to the brink of an emotional breakdown. She and a beloved aunt flee to the peace and quiet of a secluded cottage. The landlord comes across as an angry, arrogant, hostile man, but as Pru is drawn into the mystery of his turbulent life, she learns that he's dealing with some painful secrets of his own.

Readers also enjoyed

More by Catherine Cookson

Chappie’s discussion starters

🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.

  1. Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
  2. Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
  3. What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
  4. If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
  5. Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?