Falling Creatures: The Times Historical Book of the Month

Description

Cornwall, 1844. On a lonely moorland farm not far from Jamaica Inn, farmhand Shilly finds love in the arms of Charlotte Dymond. But Charlotte has many secrets, possessing powers that cause both good and ill. When she's found on the moor with her throat cut, Shilly is determined to find out who is responsible, and so is the stranger calling himself Mr Williams who asks for Shilly's help. Mr Williams has secrets too, and Shilly is thrown into the bewildering new world of modern detection.

Katherine Stansfield is a novelist and poet whose debut novel The Visitor won the Holyer an Gof Fiction Award. She grew up in the wilds of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall and lived on the west coast of Wales for many years.

'An enticing adventure of a novel, rich in beautifully realised period detail' - Kate Hamer, author of The Girl in the Red Coat; 'Full of dark wisdom and mystery. A thoroughly good read' - Paula Brackston, author of The Witch's Daughter; 'A gothic mystery to savour ... a truly fascinating mystery to savour' - Shots Mag; 'Beautifully realised . . . Stansfield manages to create a dark and macabre atmosphere that feels fresh and original' The Times - Historical Fiction Book of the Month; 'An eerily haunting tale' - Peterborough Telegraph; `Stansfield also shares du Maurier's talent for finely crafted storytelling. ... she evokes the unnerving sense of confusion and secrecy that pervaded The Visitor.' - New Welsh Review; `This is a Gothic tale with a swirling mist of speculation surrounding the mysterious Charlotte Dymond. ... As this was a notorious real life murder without a satisfactory explanation of events this book provides very interesting reading.' - Jennifer Palmer, Promoting Crime; `Stansfield guides us deftly through a complicated series of twists, in clear, mobile prose. Her language draws you into the atmosphere of mid-Victorian Cornwall ... If a test of a good novel is wanting to read on, then this one passes with flying colours. ... If you want a stimulating, engrossing and entertaining, as well as evocative read, Falling Creatures offers that, and much more.' Aberystwyth EGO