"A Distant Shore" explores the intertwined, isolated lives of Dorothy Jones and Solomon. Set against the backdrop of small-town England, the novel paints a poignant picture of loneliness and displacement. Both characters, though from vastly different worlds, find solace in one another amidst personal turmoil and societal prejudices.

Dorothy's Desolate Existence

Dorothy Jones has reached a point of stagnation in her life. In her mid-fifties, she has returned to the vicinity of her childhood, settling into a nondescript house in Stoneleigh, a housing estate near the village of Weston where she grew up. Her life is marked by solitude and a lingering disturbance from past events that she cannot shake off. Despite this, a flicker of comfort comes into her life through her interactions with Solomon, the estate’s handyman and night watchman. Their friendship, albeit superficial and tentative, offers Dorothy a glimmer of companionship.

A Troubled Past

Born to working-class parents with strict values, Dorothy was the outlier in her family, being the only one to pursue higher education. Her studies in music at university introduced her to Bryan, whom she would marry. However, their relationship was devoid of affection, and Bryan eventually left Dorothy for another woman. Seeking affection, Dorothy engaged in a brief romance with Mahmood, a married shop owner, and later with Geoff Waverley, a substitute teacher. Both relationships ended in disappointment. Dorothy's advances towards Waverley spiraled into accusations of harassment, prompting the school authorities to push her into retirement.

Solomon's Journey

Parallel to Dorothy’s story is Solomon’s harrowing past in an unnamed African country. Before becoming Solomon, he was Gabriel, a young man drawn into a "liberation army" during a violent civil war. The horrors of war left his troops engaging in atrocious acts, while at home, tragedy struck as his family was brutally killed. Fleeing his homeland, Gabriel aimed for England, holding onto hopes of better treatment for black people there.

Seeking Refuge

With a fellow refugee named Bright, Gabriel endured the perilous journey to England, clinging to a ship's side to cross the Channel before swimming ashore. In an abandoned house, an English girl named Denise showed him friendship, only for it to unravel when he was falsely accused of raping her. Though the charges were dismissed, the experience underscored the precariousness of his situation. Katherine, his immigration lawyer, advised him to seek refuge in northern England. With assistance from Mike, a lorry driver, Gabriel found a safe haven with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, who treated him with kindness. Eventually, he was granted asylum and began working at Stoneleigh, yet he repeatedly faced racial discrimination.

A Fragile Connection

Concerned that her bond with Solomon was becoming too deep, Dorothy fabricated a trip to visit her non-existent sister, Sheila, who had died of cancer. Her return home was met with a grim reality: Solomon had been kidnapped, brutally beaten, and drowned in a canal by local youths. Despite the obvious culprits, justice was elusive, and Dorothy was left grappling with the loss of the only person who understood her.

The Aftermath

In the novel's closing, Dorothy finds herself residing in a mental health facility, her emotional state barren and desolate. The absence of Solomon, who had been her sole confidant, leaves her adrift in a world that feels increasingly alien and unforgiving.