Djevojka iz susjedstva

A group of children from a London suburb discover underground tunnels (actually the foundations of an unfinished house) under a hill, which become their secret haven for games, stories and first loves. Among them are Alan, Daphne, Michael, Lewis and Woody – innocent worlds shattered by the fears of war and the prohibitions of adults.

Seventy years later, during construction work, two skeletal hands are discovered in a tin box, causing a national shock. The now old friends reunite for police questioning, sharing memories that awaken forgotten emotions and secrets. Alan Norris, in a passionless marriage to Rosemary, falls in love again with the charming widow Daphne, his first love. Michael Winwood contemplates reconciliation with his father after his mother's disappearance in 1944. Lewis remembers his Uncle James, a soldier who disappeared after entering the tunnels. Woody, lazy and an heir, lives with Anita in luxury, but suspicious.

The discovery stirs up dark memories: disappearances, murders, and childhood love triangles. The detectives investigate the connections between the hands and past events, discovering that passions do not die down with age – jealousy, revenge, and lust simmer. The novel explores themes of the transience of time, the impact of war on generations, the rewards and burdens of marriage, and the power of the past over the present. Rendell, a master of suspense, builds subtle drama through introspection, reminding us that deep wounds do not heal, but only wait for the moment to bloom.