Mr Chartwell

It's 1964 and vulnerable young widow Esther is nervously waiting for her new lodger, Mr Chartwell to arrive. But when he does appear at her door, she receives an unexpected shock, for Mr Chartwell is no ordinary lodger - in fact, he is a monstrous black dog who enjoys nothing better than swilling a bucket of gin and tonic, telling bad jokes and cooking up a supper of coot pie.

At first, Esther is unsure about such an unusual house guest, especially, as she tentatively explains, she is more used to dogs 'on a pet basis' but the charismatic and sinister Mr Chartwell - or Black Pat as he is known to his intimates - is clearly not willing to take 'no' for an answer. Meanwhile, across London, the 89 year-old Winston Churchill is preparing to retire from parliament, whilst battling episodes of intense depression, which he describes as none other than 'the black dog'…

This quirky and exuberant debut novel is a thought-provoking exploration of depression, as well as a bold and witty reimagining of the final days of Churchill's career.