She cast her gaze to the unseen storm raging outside and thought of all the layers being presented to her, and whether she would be offered at some point a portal to another universe.

Already recovering from the loss of her brother, Samantha - a young councillor from a village near Oxford - is not about to get any rest. As her influence and power grow, she faces threats from unexpected sources and it becomes clear that not only her future but that of the entire country - indeed, the world - is at stake.

She meets two men - an elderly music teacher and an American intelligence operative - who just might have the answers to everything. The three of them start to work together, unveiling extraordinary secrets from life beyond death to the truth about extraterrestrials.

They discover that the world is not at all how it seems, and that everyone has got it wrong.

Much of 'Secrets' is based on real events and revelations, but names and details have been changed.

Included at the end of the book are suggested topics for discussion, questions and further activities for those interested in pursuing the scientific and spiritual issues raised further.

Cover from a painting by Silvia Pastore