DAILY MAIL BOOKS OF THE YEAR
WINNER OF THE CRIMEFEST eDUNNIT AWARD

'Deeply atmospheric. . . Combines intrigue, magic and antiquarian bookselling.' Observer
'A marvellous, magical novel' Irish Times
'Irresistible. . . A lavish, lush quest novel.' LAUREN BEUKES

Rare book dealer Lily Albrecht has been given a tip-off about The Book of the Most Precious Substance, rumoured to be the most powerful occult book ever written. With some of the world's wealthiest people willing to pay a fortune for it, she embarks on a journey from New York to New Orleans to Munich to Paris, knowing that it could also help erase the greatest tragedy of her life.

But does the book really exist at all, or will Lily lose everything in search of a ghost?

What readers are saying:

***** 'Erotic, thrilling, and tense all the way through. There is nothing like this on the shelves.'
***** 'Devilishly delightful. . . THE BEST TWIST ENDING of the year!!'
***** 'I'm a bit obsessed with this book. . . it's sexy and mysterious and cool, like nothing I've read before.'
***** 'My only complaint is that I wanted more!'

A book with all of life's answers, if only you can find it...

About the Author

Sara Gran is the author of six previous novels, including Come Closer and her acclaimed crime series starring PI Claire DeWitt. She also writes for film and TV, including 'Southland' and 'Chance', and has published in The New York Times, The New Orleans Times Picayune, and USA Today.

Reviews
'Gran's writing, like the grimoire, is palpably seductive. The search for pleasure and magic is an aphrodisiac, one that pulses on the page.' - Danielle Trussoni, The New York Times

'Gran perfectly captures the eccentric world of antiquarian bookselling while portraying a profound and magical reckoning with loss and the possibility of going on. She has outdone herself. ' - Publisher's Weekly, Starred Review

'While Lily's hunt propels the story forward, it is Gran's frequently exquisite prose that demands investment from its audience.' - Bookpage, Starred Review

'Sara Gran's THE BOOK OF THE MOST PRECIOUS SUBSTANCE is a mix of book buying mystery, erotica, and a pinch of Clive Barkerian obsessive existential horror, but it's all Gran. And it's all brilliant.' - Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World

'Extravagant, sexy and compelling. I loved it.' - Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls

'There's two types of magic at play, here. There's what these characters are trying to do, mixing books and sex and spells, and then there's the magic Sara Gran is doing to us, as we compulsively read this literary thriller. And there's a third magic we only wish we could do: pay in blood to go back, read this book again for the first time.' - Stephen Graham Jones



Book Information
ISBN 9780571375615
Author Sara Gran
Format Hardback
Page Count 336
Imprint Faber & Faber
Publisher Faber & Faber
Weight(grams) 445g
Dimensions(mm) 216mm * 135mm * 24mm