Winner of both the Guardian Award and the Carnegie Medal, this is an all-time classic, combining mystery, adventure, history and a complex set of human relationships. It all begins with the scratching in the ceiling. From the moment Alison discovers the dinner service in the attic, with its curious pattern of floral owls, a chain of events is set in progress that is to effect everybody's lives. Alison, her step-brother Roger and Welsh boy Gwyn are drawn into the relentless replay of an old Welsh legend -- a modern drama played out against a background of ancient jealousies.

As the tension mounts, it becomes apparent that tragedy is the only outcome unless one of them has the strength to change the pattern of events.