The Gallery of Vanished Husbands

Forward a couple of decades from our May book to our June book club choice... The Gallery of Vanished Husbands is the captivating story of the life and loves of a woman who breaks free of her strict Jewish upbringing and joins the world of art and artists in sixties London.

When Juliet Montague's husband disappears, so does she. As far as the conservative Jewish community in which she lives is concerned, she is invisible. She does her best to conform to their rules, but then on her thirtieth birthday she does something unexpected. Instead of the fridge she has scrimped for, she impulsively spends her savings on a portrait of herself.

It is the first in a series of portraits that punctuate Juliet's adult life as she joins London's lively post-war art scene and proves to be an astute spotter of talent. Yet she remains an outsider in both her worlds: a mother of two, drawn to a reclusive artist who never leaves Dorset, and unable to feel free until she has found her husband - a quest that leads her to California and a surprising discovery.

Absorbing, intriguing and richly evocative, this is the tale of one woman's life and an unusual emotional journey, each stage hinged on a painting. It is a bravura performance by a highly talented young author.

Natasha Solomons is the author of the internationally bestselling Mr Rosenblum's List and The Novel in the Viola, which was chosen for the Richard & Judy Book Club. Natasha lives in Dorset with her son and her husband with whom she also writes screenplays. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages.

The Gallery of Vanished Husbands will be released in paperback on 19 June and available from all good booksellers. All our free copies have now gone. If you were lucky enough to receive a copy, please do leave your questions and comments to the author on our thread.