Looking for the Backbeat

Book excerpt: Pete's musical genius is his refuge when life with his bullying father and alcoholic mother gets too much. But his gift has a flipside that can send him crashing from euphoric highs to the darkest of depressions. Terry Barrow provides the lyrics to Pete's tunes. And he helps Pete fight the lows. After University, in Spain, they go from strength to strength in the recording studio and on tour. But tragedy's never far away in Pete's life. It brings them home again-unknown in their own country but rich enough to be able to do everything they ever wanted. Terry is content to take some time out and Pete seems to have found some peace at last. But when Pete sees the Old Camberwell House and learns about its odd history, his curiosity quickly turns to obsession, convinced that, finally, he will find his backbeat. And Terry wonders if, this time, he'll be able to save his best friend from the demon that's always been lurking in the shadows-that low too deep to escape.