A brutal earthquake strikes without warning, sweeping away the fragile infrastructure of Pakistan's Himalayan sub-ranges within a few seconds, claiming the lives of thousands of people and leaving millions without shelter just as the bitter winter is moving in. A multi-national team of aid workers are drawn in from across the globe in a race against time to assist survivors under intense physical and emotional pressure. Amongst them is John Cousins, a British journalist who finds himself at the centre of conflicting interests played out against the highly charged disaster scenario. The events he bears witness to in the remote mountain areas are both heart-breaking and inspiring. In the face of crushing adversity, the local community must pull-together to pave a new life on the other side of this earth-shattering catastrophe.

Andrew Goss is a former print journalist, overseas aid worker and humanitarian reporter. His work has led him to travel across Europe, Africa and South Asia. His new novel, Cold Coffee in Asmara, is set in Eritrea, north-east Africa, following its protracted war with Ethiopia and is the second in a planned trilogy focusing on some of the world’s poorest communities. He lives in Leicester with his partner Claire, a nurse and former aid worker.