The Bells of Westminster
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Profile Books Ltd
Published:17th Oct '24
Should be back in stock very soon
The new standalone historical thriller by the bestselling author of Blue Water, Black Drop and Scarlet Town
* A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION PICK OF THE MONTH * '[An] entertaining historical mystery' - SUNDAY TIMES 'A wonderfully clever historical novelist' - DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Vivid characters and wonderful descriptions make this novel sparkle' - DAILY MAIL He looked as if he had just received some very bad news. In that he was certainly right, for he was perfectly and incontrovertibly dead... London, 1774. Susan Bell spends her days within the confines of Westminster Abbey, one of many who live in the grounds of the ancient building. Her father, the kindly Dean of Westminster, is always busy keeping the many canons and vergers in check, when not being romantically pursued by forceful widows. Life at the abbey is uneventful, even after the unwelcome arrival of Susan's cousin Lindley and his unusual scientific demonstrations. That is until the Society of Antiquaries come armed with a letter from King George III, demanding to open the tomb of Edward I. As the Society prepares to open the tomb, a ghostly figure is seen walking the abbey cloisters, wearing the crown and shroud of the dead king. Then there is further uproar when one of the Antiquaries is found viciously murdered, and the corpse of Edward I is stolen. With her father's position under threat from the scandal, Susan feels duty-bound to investigate these strange occurrences. Could one of the Society members be harbouring a murderous secret? Or is one of the abbey's own a killer? The new historical mystery from the bestselling author of Black Drop, Blue Water and Scarlet Town. Perfect for readers of Andrew Taylor, Laura Shepherd-Robinson and S.J. Parris. 'Memorable and utterly engaging' - S.G. MACLEAN 'Nattrass is a master storyteller' - JANICE HALLETT 'One of my favourite historical fiction authors' - PHILIPPA EAST
Susan's wit and unwillingness to play the role that 18th-century society expects of a clergyman's daughter sustain her through a series of dangers and unwelcome revelations in this entertaining historical mystery * Sunday Times *
There's plot a plenty in Nattrass's standalone historical thriller but it's the vivid characters and wonderful descriptions of Westminster Abbey that make her fourth novel sparkle * Daily Mail *
An exhilarating voyage into another era, crammed with persuasive detail * Financial Times *
At last, a mystery story with an original crime at its heart: royal body-snatching... A splendid romp from a wonderfully clever historical novelist * Daily Telegraph *
A deliciously spooky romp... Leonora Nattrass is a master storyteller. She brings this world to vivid life with her sharp, lively and irreverent prose. A book that is funny, delightful, unnerving, intriguing and essential -- Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEAL
A hugely enjoyable book, filled with memorable and utterly engaging characters who come to life in the vastness, galleries, cloister walks and hidden stairways of their world. The mystery, rooted in the competing contemporary theories of science, antiquarianism and folk belief, is garlanded with enticing depictions of the abbey's treasures. I hope to hear more of Susan, Lindley and especially the marvellous Cuthbert, the parrot -- S.G. MacLean, author of THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS
The Bells of Westminster delivers everything you would want from a historical crime novel. A wonderfully rendered period setting, a cast of sympathetic characters, and a compelling puzzle, one with great historical resonance. All told using the most delicious prose. A delightfully immersive historical mystery -- Vaseem Khan, author of THE UNEXPECTED INHERITANCE OF INSPECTOR CHOPRA
A cast of wonderfully unique characters, a beguiling mystery, a beautiful and atmospheric setting, historical accuracy and masterful storytelling... An intriguing and highly amusing read, which I highly recommend -- Louise Fein, author of PEOPLE LIKE US
A hugely entertaining page-turner, with wonderful characterisation and an immersive setting all woven around a brilliantly intriguing murder mystery. Leonora Nattrass remains one of my favourite historical fiction authors -- Philippa East, author of LITTLE WHITE LIES
An absolute page-turner, containing everything one could want from an historical mystery -- J.M. Hewitt, author of THE LIFE SHE WANTS
A Trollopian delight: historical murder mystery laced with delicious humour and delicate romance. Jane Austen meets Umberto Eco. Charming -- Miranda Malins, author of THE PURITAN PRINCESS
Delightful and intriguing. It takes a special skill to turn an abbey into a character in itself. The book crackles with an ingenious spark. Brilliant -- S.W. Perry, author of THE ANGEL'S MARK
Beautifully written, extremely funny, witty, charming and absolute treasure of a book -- Siobhan MacGowan, author of THE TRIAL OF LOTTA RAE
Reads like Barchester crossed with Agatha Christie with a light dusting of Austen... Fresh funny and beautifully done -- Kate Griffin, author of KITTY PECK AND THE MUSIC HALL MURDERS
Jane Austen meets Agatha Christie in this witty historical puzzler with a dash of gothic -- Douglas Skelton, author of AN HONOURABLE THIEF
ISBN: 9781800817012
Dimensions: 236mm x 162mm x 36mm
Weight: 598g
384 pages
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