The new Victorian chiller from the author of The Silent Companions.
Is prisoner Ruth Butterham mad or a murderer Victim or villain Dorothea and Ruth. Prison visitor and prisoner. Powerful and powerless.
Dorothea Truelove is young,wealthy and beautiful. Ruth Butterham is young,poor and awaiting trial for murder. When Dorothea's charitable work leads her to Oakgate Prison,she is delighted with the chance to explore her fascination with phrenology and test her hypothesis that the shape of a person's skull can cast a light on their darkest crimes.
But when she meets teenage seamstress Ruth,she is faced with another theory: that it is possible to kill with a needle and thread. For Ruth attributes her crimes to a supernatural power inherent in her stitches.
The story Ruth has to tell of her deadly creations - of bitterness and betrayal,of death and dresses - will shake Dorothea's belief in rationality,and the power of redemption. Can Ruth be trusted Is she mad,or a murderer
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLCISBN: 9781408889527Number of pages: 416Weight: 292 gDimensions: 198 x 129 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'A compelling slice of early Victorian gothic...Vivid and well researched,this book is an evocative portrait of a society that punishes women who dare to contravene social norms...as well as a splendid mystery with suitably melodramatic flourishes'- The Guardian
'The Silent Companions was a chillingly note-perfect take on Victorian gothic and (Purcell) makes a brilliant return to the genre with this much-anticipated tale...Heart-pounding...A classic Victorian tale of murder most foul,twisted with a curious supernatural thread'- Stylist
'Chilling...All but the most cynical will find it hard to stop turning the pages'- The Observer
'Purcell's tale brilliantly captures the restricted lives of Victorian women,while pitting magical thinking against scientific rationale'- The Mail on Sunday
'The Corset is a contender for my Book of the Year. Ruth and Dorothea will live in my mind for a long time. Beautifully written,intricately plotted,a masterpiece'- Sarah Hilary
'A romping read with a deliciously dark conceit at its centre. Reminded me of Alias Grace. A worthy successor to The Silent Companions' - Kiran Millwood Hargrave
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