She only left her daughter in the car for a minute. Just a quick minute whilst she ran into the shop. She barely thought twice about making that decision, but it soon began to consume her every thought. And not just her thoughts, but those of every neighbour, police and social security worker in a fifteen mile radius . This is her child. Surely she knows best? After making the move to a small town in Scotland the rolling hills and blustery beaches seemed to be the perfect backdrop for her and her four year-old daughter, Emily, to start again, to mend and move on. It isn't always easy just the two of them, but Liz is sure that she can manage. She hasn't been entirely honest, though, not with herself or her new friends. Will they be as supportive once they realise who she is? Sometimes, one mistake is all it takes to unravel everything. A lyrically sparse novel about judgement, intergenerational relationships, community, class, and the expectations that we place on mothers. With sharp prose Alison Irvine has crafted a compassionate narrative that compels you to read on. Cat Step will appeal to fans of Sarah Winman, Anne Enright, and Kit de Waal.