CATHERINE Cookson may no longer be with us, but her spirit lives on in a stunning new saga which is the final instalment of one of her most popular series.

So meet again the emotionally scarred but successful writer Maisie and her imaginary horse Hamilton, who helps her to face up to the harsh realities of life. And boy does she need help. Third husband Tommy turns out to be a rotter and a return to Tyneside brings more torment for Maisie in the shape of the Sand Dancer, one of Tommy's employees who is as menacing as he is mysterious.

And there is yet more grief to come from Tommy himself.

Rosie Goodwin has been chosen to carry on the Cookson tradition and she does our Kate proud with a passionate and vibrant story of a woman who faces fate full-on, but who never loses her faith in humanity or her generosity of spirit.

Just like Kate herself.