Author:Sheila Norton
Can happiness be made in Devon?...
After the sudden death of her estranged husband, Clare is shocked to discover she has inherited a dog and a small fortune. Convinced by her adult children to finally do something for herself, Clare embarks on a coast-to-coast adventure - until she stumbles upon an unmarked location on the fringes of South Devon.
When Clare finds herself driving down a narrow road to the tiny village of Little Sorrell, she is met with distant, cold, and rude locals. But as she falls in love with a cottage she wishes to call home, can Little Sorrell truly be the place of second chances?...
I loved it. Atmospheric and so good.
—— Marian KeyesElizabeth Lee's debut novel is timely in its depiction of hysteria and persecution, and beautifully evokes a historical period poised between dark ignorance and long-overdue enlightenment.
—— ObserverA dark, bewitching and captivating read that had my heart in my mouth by the ending. A Romeo & Juliet love story framed by witchcraft, magic, fear and intolerance. I loved it
With a painfully unexpected ending, this is a story about loneliness, connection and female rage that fans of intensely atmospheric historical fiction will love.
—— StylistA haunting tale with a brutal twist.
—— Emily Brand, author of THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF BYRONWitches and the dread they inspired are captured here with chilling deftness
—— Woman and HomeAn impressive debut . . . anyone who roots for the underdog will fall for Sarah . . . beautifully relevant.
—— Kate MascarenhasElizabeth Lee builds up a powerful atmosphere of menace, with danger lurking around every corner, until the mounting tension builds to boiling point.
—— Charlotte Heathcote , Daily ExpressThis powerful story of forbidden love takes place during a time of persecution after the Pendle witch trials of 1612. At its heart is a wild young woman searching for what life can offer ... A tense and atmospheric ride.
—— Daily MailBeautiful, tense (at points breathless!) historical fiction with meticulously researched description. I loved it.
—— Kate Sawyer, author of THE STRANDINGWonderfully original . . . devastating . . . and fabulously atmospheric too.
—— Elodie Harper, author of THE WOLF DENThe pleasure of the novel lies in the tension between the familiar story of patriarchal injustice and a more complex investigation of supernatural belief and disbelief. It's a thrilling read. But, beyond the thrill, is the beauty of the language. Lancashire dialect and vocabulary are used to immense poetic affect, disarmingly evocative of time and place. The characters too, are well drawn and multi-faceted and its closure is both deeply satisfying and truly sad. A pleasure to read - with an undercurrent of genuine fear.
—— Annie Garthwaite, author of CECILYA gorgeous gothic novel ... sure to be loved by fans of The Essex Serpent and The Mercies ... Elizabeth Lee has conjured an engrossing tale of young love and a shattering story of the intolerance that reigned during the long shadow of the Witch Trials.
—— Northern Life MagazineElizabeth Lee's historical debut is a powerful tale of love, loyalty and prejudice.
—— CultureFlyRich and lyrical
—— HeatInventive.
—— Bookmunch