The Cicada House

When Caitlin inherits a large sum of money she takes the opportunity to leave England and travel back to Australia where she was born. Her husband is leaving her for another woman so she needs time to rethink about her life and also to try to find information about her mother who had travelled to Australia with a band before Caitlin was born.

Caitlin finds herself living in an old house, The Cicada House, by the beach on the Victorian coast. Here she has the chance to reflect on her life so far and consider what the future may hold. As she encounters many of the locals Caitlin finds the need to reconsider how she has approached people in the past. Gradually she begins to enjoy the new life she is encountering in Australia, especially the weather and being able to swim in the sea, a short walk from the house.

Then one day Caitlin meets David who makes some of the repairs that the house badly needs. David also encourages Caitlin to assist him in some of the tasks. Caitlin looks forward to David's visits but then begins to discover that all is not as she would expect.

The Cicada House by Ella Ward is a story about how a lonely woman reconstructs her life when she encounters new opportunities in a different environment. The novel also incorporates time travel into the plot, adding another dimension to Caitlin's story.