And yet, when Electra knew one of us was in trouble, she was the first to offer help and support. Just as she was capable of huge selfishness, her generosity on other occasions was equally pronounced.

After Electra, the entire household was expecting the arrival of the Seventh Sister. After all, we’d been named after Pa Salt’s favourite star cluster and we wouldn’t be complete without her. We even knew her name – Merope – and wondered who she would be. But a year went past, and then another, and another, and no more babies arrived home with our father.

I remember vividly standing with him once in his observatory. I was fourteen years old and just on the brink of womanhood. We were waiting for an eclipse, which he’d told me was a seminal moment for humankind and usually brought change with it.

‘Pa,’ I said, ‘will you ever bring home our seventh sister?’

At this, his strong, protective bulk had seemed to freeze for a few seconds. He’d looked suddenly as though he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. Although he didn’t turn around, for he was still concentrating on training the telescope on the coming eclipse, I knew instinctively that what I’d said had distressed him.

‘No, Maia, I won’t. Because I have never found her.’

As the familiar thick hedge of spruce trees, which shielded our waterside home from prying eyes, came into view, I saw Marina standing on the jetty and the dreadful truth of losing Pa finally began to sink in.

And I realised that the man who had created the kingdom in which we had all been his princesses was no longer present to hold the enchantment in place.

Maia, Ally, Star, CeCe, Tiggy, Electra and Merope have all been found. But what of the man who brought them all together? It’s time to discover the truth . . .

ATLAS:
THE STORY OF PA SALT

The multimillion-copy epic Seven Sisters reaches its stunning, unforgettable conclusion.

Lucinda Riley wrote this novel in partnership with her son, Harry Whittaker.

PRAISE FOR THE SEVEN SISTERS SERIES

‘Heart-wrenching, uplifting and utterly enthralling’

Lucy Foley

‘There’s something magical about these stories’

Prima

‘Addictive storytelling’

Woman & Home

‘A masterclass in beautiful writing’

Sun

Publishing Spring 2023

Available for pre-order now from www.panmacmillan.com

The Murders at Fleat House

Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland and, after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold thirty million copies worldwide. She was a Sunday Times and New York Times number one bestseller.

Lucinda’s The Seven Sisters series, which tells the story of adopted sisters and is inspired by the mythology of the famous star cluster, has become a global phenomenon. The series is a number one bestseller across the world and is currently in development with a major TV production company.