WATERSTONES SCOTTISH BOOK OF THE MONTH 'Beguiling and elegiac' Lucy Steeds author of The
Artist 'A gritty tale of secrets guilt and desire' Observer 'Completely enthralling' Lucy
Rose author of The Lamb 'An extraordinary sense of place and time written by an exciting
new voice' Radio Times (Best Books 2025) ____ 1915 the Cabrach. In the fierce wild beauty
of this remote corner of Scotland an isolated community makes a discovery: an ancient body in
a peat bog perfectly preserved. Two people haul the body from the ground: Lizzie the wife of
a wealthy local landowner and Johnny a nomadic singer and farm hand. Soon afterwards
strange events begin to occur. At hearthside and inn people whisper: what have we unearthed?
As tensions run high and men leave for war old fears and secrets emerge. But in a place where
judgement is swift who is truly without sin? 'A striking debut filled with folkloric
mystery and yearning' Amy Twigg author of Spoilt Creatures 'Scapegoats suspicion and
secrets...a haunting picture of a small intense environment where isolation can breed
solidarity and warmth as easily as superstition and exclusion' Financial Times 'A simmering
tale of outcasts and buried secrets love and redemption' Danielle Giles author of Mere 'A
striking and atmospheric debut' The Times 'Sets a beautifully atmospheric scene from its
opening lines to its final moments' PA MEDIA WHAT READERS ARE SAYING: 'An earthy
folkloric tale where superstition is rife... a captivating read . Highly recommended' 'A
gothic literary experience rural and immersive that thrums with tension mystery and
forbidden love' 'A deeply immersive reading experience and one of the best elements of this
book is how the atmosphere and environment of rural scotland the small farms the fields the
bog the changing of seasons - nature itself becomes a character' ' Beautifully written
chilling and disturbing the book is an engrossing read from start to finish' 'Sometimes you
come across a book that is note perfect very readable and entirely relatable but still
beautifully poetically written. This is such a complete novel it is hard to believe it is the
author's debut' 'This was a stunningly beautiful novel. Dark and creepy and wonderfully
realised and the character voices were next-level good'
