Somewhere a Bird Is Singing — E.V. Thompson

Life is not easy for Sally and Ruth. Alone since the death of their mother, both girls struggle to survive the hardships of life in Plymouth's docklands. Ruth, the eldest sister, does her best to look after Sally but the only way she can make money is through prostitution. Sally, however, is luckier; she finds a respectable job and, when she meets Ethan, who plays the flute with the Salvation Army band, she also finds romance. However, just as life seems to be finally getting easier for the sisters, Ruth is brutally murdered. Sally decides to search for her father, Robert, now a butler in Cornwall, but finding her father doesn't bring the happiness Sally anticipates. Instead Robert's reappearance brings further disappointments. But Sally's optimism never dies - the beautiful sound of a bird singing fills her with hope for a happy future.