Description
Deeply gripping and darkly atmospheric, The Animals at Lockwood Manor is a tale of long-buried secrets and hidden desires by Jane Healey.
Winner of the HWA Debut Crown Award 2020
Some secrets are unspoken. Others are unspeakable . . .
August 1939. As the Second World War looms, thirty-year-old Hetty Cartwright is tasked with the evacuation and safekeeping of the natural history museum's famous collection of mammals. But once she and her exhibits arrive at Lockwood Manor, Hetty soon realizes that she's taken on more than she'd bargained for . . .
Protecting her priceless animals from the irascible Lord Lockwood and resentful servants is hard enough, but when a series of mysterious events occur, Hetty begins to suspect someone - or something - is stalking her through the darkened corridors of the gothic mansion.
As her fears build, Hetty finds herself falling under the spell of Lucy, Lord Lockwood's beautiful but haunted daughter. But why is Lucy so traumatized? Does she know something she's not telling? And is there any truth to local rumours of ghosts and curses?
'Atmospheric and disquieting . . . an ideal book club read' - A J Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird
Some secrets are unspoken. Others are unspeakable . . .
About the Author
Jane Healey studied English Literature at Warwick University. She has been shortlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize 2013, the Costa Short Story Award 2014, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2016 and the Penguin Random House WriteNow mentoring programme 2017. The Animals at Lockwood Manor is her first novel. She lives in Edinburgh.
Reviews
Jane Healey's excellent debut novel is a rich story full of tension and darkness. The star of the novel is the claustrophobic Manor itself, which casts a shadow over every page and hides a truly horrible secret. Atmospheric and disquieting, The Animals at Lockwood Manor is an ideal book club read -- A J Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird
An eerie puzzle box of a book . . . a deeply consuming read and a fantastic novel to get lost in -- Erika Swyler
Such a vivid, beautiful but haunting story, with a thread of darkness running through it . . . I was thoroughly engrossed -- Cressida McLaughlin
This story will keep you captivated * Women's Weekly *
Hypnotic . . . Will keep you emotionally invested to the end * Woman & Home *
Absorbing, atmospheric * The Herald *
In this modern gothic, animals disappear, chilling screams pierce the night, and tales of abuse and madness abound. An appropriately horrific conclusion is worthy of the genre's best storytellers * Audiofile *
Book Information
ISBN 9781529014198
Author Jane Healey
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Pan Books
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 250g
Dimensions(mm) 195mm * 129mm * 23mm