The thirteenth-century is just begun and King John has fallen out with the Pope, leaving babies to lie unbaptized in their cradles and corpses in unconsecrated ground. Across a fear-ravaged England, the people are dying in sin.

In the village of Gastmere, this has shocking consequences for servant girl Elena. Unwittingly drawn into a macabre scheme to absolve dying Lord Gerard of his crimes, death and betrayal haunt her dreams like a curse.

And when Elena is threatened with hanging for a murder she did not commit, it is certain that unnatural conspiracy lies behind these dark deeds. But where can she turn? For in every face lies wickedness and in every shadow lurks treachery . . .

About the Author
Karen Maitland travelled and worked in many parts of the United Kingdom before finally settling in the beautiful medieval city of Lincoln. She is the author of The White Room, Company of Liars, The Owl Killers and The Gallows Curse. The latter three titles are available as Penguin paperbacks.

Reviews
A ripping tale set in the year of 1210. Full of colour and detail * Daily Telegraph *
Maitland's richest yet: a breathless romp through an England rendered spiritually desolate. Bubbles over with the exploits of desperate priests, scheming herbalists, torturous conspirators, a dwarf-sized madam and a plot of treason against the King * Metro *
Bawdy and brutal * Simon Mayo *
A gem of a story. Meticulously researched and told with blood-curdling relish, this is a tale that will keep you awake at night * News of the World *
A richly evocative page-turner which brings to life a lost and terrible period of British history, with a disturbing final twist worthy of a master of the spine-tingler, such as Henry James * Daily Express *
Karen Maitland neatly catches the spirit of primitive superstition * Daily Express *



Book Information
ISBN 9780141047447
Author Karen Maitland
Format Paperback
Page Count 592
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 405g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 35mm