The forgiven - Lawrence Osborne

For the sake of fun and friendship, and a few days under a fiercer sun, David and Jo Henniger accept the invitation to attend the annual bacchanal of old acquaintances at their home in the Moroccan desert.

On the road, darkness has descended, directions are vague and the couple begin to argue. When two young fossil sellers suddenly appear from the side of the road, hawking their wares, David - inebriated and irritable - fails to stop the car as it collides with one of the young men.

Meanwhile, festivities at the house are in full flow. Under the watchful eyes of their Moroccan staff, the extravagant hosts attend to the whims of their glittering, insatiable guests as the party rages on into a new day. The stage is set for a weekend in which David and Jo must come to terms with their fateful act and its shattering consequences.