'Shimmering with menace, this is a deliciously Gothic treat' Heat

'What a book! So intriguing, with a terrific plot and strong characters' Prima

'Simmering with secrets, this beguiling mystery is a dark delight' Essie Fox, author of The Fascination

'Builds an uneasy atmosphere that crept under my skin and kept me guessing until the end' Hester Musson, author of The Beholders

Can she unlock the secrets of The House of Fever?

1935, Hedone House, a luxurious sanatorium for the creative elite dedicated to the groundbreaking treatment of tuberculosis. As the doctor's new wife, Agnes Templeton has pledged her life to a house of fever.

But Hedone is no ordinary hospital. High society rubs shoulders with artists, poets and musicians. No expense is spared on the comfort of the guests, and champagne flows freely. It's a world away from everything Agnes knows.

Her husband's methods are unusual. There are whisperings about past patients and even a cure. Hedone's secrets draw Agnes in, revealing truths she could never anticipate, and soon she is caught between a past she is desperate to escape and a future she may forever regret.

Praise for Polly Crosby

'Hugely evocative and beautifully written' Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl

'A thoroughly compelling mystery meets a poignant love story, all wrapped up in beautifully lyrical writing' Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest Man

'A beguiling mystery from a gifted storyteller' Louise Fein, author of People Like Us

What readers are saying about The House of Fever

'Atmospheric, eerie, claustrophobic and beguiling' Netgalley reviewer,

'A five star read. Really loved this story' Netgalley reviewer,

'I devoured this book' Netgalley reviewer,

'Atmospheric, fascinating, and full of glamour' Netgalley reviewer,

An atmospheric and suspenseful new gothic historical mystery full of secrets perfect for Halloween 2024

About the Author

Polly Crosby grew up on the Suffolk coast, and now lives with her husband and son in the heart of Norfolk.
In 2018, Polly won Curtis Brown Creative's Yesterday Scholarship, which enabled her to finish her debut novel, The Illustrated Child. Later the same year, it was awarded runner-up in the Bridport Prize's Peggy Chapman Andrews Award for a First Novel. Polly received the Annabel Abbs Creative Writing Scholarship at the University of East Anglia. The House of Fever is her fourth novel.

Reviews

Further praise for The House of Fever

'[A] pacy historical drama, which kept me gripped until the last page' Good Housekeeping

Praise for Polly Crosby

'An evocatively written, haunting tale that has historic epic written all over it' Belfast Telegraph

'An elegant yet earthy tale dancing between two timelines and two women trapped within the memories of the past'

LoveReading.co.uk Picks of the Month May 2023

'A beautifully written, haunting story of love and tragedy' Womans' Weekly

'Polly Crosby whips up a lush, mythical world ... realised beautifully in vivid writing. A book worm's treat!' Eve Chase, author of The Glass House

'[A] gem of a read' Good Housekeeping

'Like a surreal cabinet of curiosities - haunting, eerie, evocative.' Bridget Collins, author of The Binding

'A captivating coming-of-age story with memorable characters beautifully brought to life in a setting dripping with atmosphere' Daily Mail

'A luminous and beautiful novel that gently lures the reader into a captivating story with a mystery at its heart.' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne

'This moving tale is set in a mesmerising world. Like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, the story emerges slowly, allowing you to immerse yourself in its wonders.' Heat

'A beautifully written tale of butterflies, secrets and silk' Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose

'Dreamy image after image ... like a series of beautiful paintings' Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists

'A bewitching read' Woman & Home

'Evocative and enchanting - a future classic and a star in the making' Sunday Times bestselling author Veronica Henry

'An extraordinary debut... beautiful, dark, haunting and unforgettable... I loved it' Edward Carey, author of Little

'A promising debut novel ... full of atmospheric tension' Mail on Sunday

Book Information
ISBN 9780008550738
Author Polly Crosby
Format Paperback
Page Count 384
Imprint HQ
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 630g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 26mm