This deft, dark, and unforgettable new novel by Barbara Vine is the story of bestselling author Gerald Candless, whose sudden death of a heart attack leaves behind a wife and two daughters. To work through her grief, one of his daughters, Sarah, decides to write a biography of her internationally celebrated father.

Within hours of beginning her search, Sarah comes across the first of what will be many shocking revelations: Gerald Candless was an impostor who had stolen his name from a boy who had died in infancy. There are few clues to her father's real identity, but as they come to light, a terrible logic emerges that may explain her mother's lifelong bitterness, her father's urgent need to create himself anew, and a long-forgotten murder.

The Chimney Sweeper's Boy is the work of a writer at the top of her craft. A sophisticated, complex exploration of sexuality and love, this riveting mystery will add new luster to Vine's brilliant reputation.