Legacy of Lies

Uncovering the Past to Heal the Present

When Rae Chapman stumbles upon a childhood photograph revealing a twin sister she never knew existed, her carefully built life begins to unravel. The search for truth leads her into the depths of family secrets, long-buried grief, and a legacy of silence that spans generations. As Rae grapples with betrayal and suppressed memories, she finds a powerful connection with Lydia Armstrong—a woman nearing the end of her life with her own devastating secret.

Together, they navigate the painful terrain of lost children, hidden truths, and the fragile threads of forgiveness. Legacy of Lies is a poignant, multigenerational story of resilience, redemption, and the courage it takes to confront the past.

Discover a story that lingers long after the final page—start reading Legacy of Lies today.

Excerpt from the book

Rae woke up suddenly, gasping for air, her heart racing and body trembling. The bed appeared to have hosted a wrestling match, with sweaty, tangled sheets. Eerie shadows clambered along the walls of the bedroom. As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, the unwelcome shapes resembled arms reaching out to haul Rae back into the nightmare she had hoped to leave behind in her childhood. Yet the dream was more vivid and frightening than ever, so graphic she could almost feel the wet grass on her bare feet.

Shouting and screaming filled the air as her sobbing mother gripped Rae’s hand so tightly it made her cry. Blue flashing lights and greedy red tongues of flame lit up the garden, scorching the little girl’s face as she gazed, transfixed, at the burning house. Then, as can only occur in a dream, Rae was no longer in the garden but upstairs in the bedroom, alone and frightened, looking out of the window at the commotion below. Each time she tried to shout for her daddy, the dry, choking smoke caught in her throat and coughing strangled the words. The flood of tears dried instantly on her face from the unbearable heat, and her little cheeks stung. Finally, when she could no longer see from the window, the child groped tentatively along the wall, inching back to her bed where her hot little fingers discovered her stuffed rabbit. The little girl climbed under the duvet, sobbing, and hugged Babbit close until, eventually and silently, the toxic fumes did their worst.

Knowing there’d be no more sleep for a while, Rae traipsed wearily downstairs to make a drink, repeating like a mantra: it’s only a dream, only a nightmare. She’d escaped the fire long ago and was safe, so why did this nightmare persist?

Sitting at the tiny kitchen table with a mug of warm cocoa, her grandmother’s antidote to all problems, Rae attempted to divert her disturbing thoughts to happier ones, which should have been easy, as in only a few hours she was meeting her fiancé, Sean, to visit a possible venue for their wedding in December. How she wished Sean was here now. Ringing him was always an option, but what to say? ‘I’ve had a nightmare and could use some company?’ No – let Sean sleep on – morning would come quickly enough. Rae would pull herself together and shake off the uninvited images on her own.

Allowing her eyes to drift from the half-finished floor to the stark, bare walls reminded Rae that her home was currently little more than a building site. Could this be the trigger for the return of the nightmare? Drinking the milky cocoa and attempting to steer her thoughts away from the dream, she finally felt weary enough to return to bed. Sleep did come, but in short, fitful bursts, and when the alarm clock rang at 7.30am, Rae’s eyes were gritty and her head pounded. Two paracetamol and an apple sufficed for breakfast before Rae showered and dressed, willing the shadows of the nightmare to disperse.

At 10.00am, Sean’s infectious smile and enthusiasm for their wedding plans eased the terrors of the previous night, and a relieved Rae squeezed his outstretched hand, welcoming the comfort his proximity brought. Hand in hand they walked through the door of The Bridge, which, on paper at least, was the first choice for their reception.