Edith Harkness and her new lover, Halit, find themselves isolated in Edith's immense studio, Burntcoat. A virus is raging outside in their unnamed British city, and the two must navigate their new relationship in the midst of fear and massive change. Burntcoat itself seems to change as well, as it becomes the couple's whole world for the extent of their isolation. Booker-nominated author Sarah Hall, a celebrated short-story writer, has here written a novel that is sharp and stunning.