The Familiars

Something's not right here. In the house. With the family.'<BR> <BR>West Yorkshire, 1904. When newly graduated nurse Ruby May takes a position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear there's something not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs England.<BR><BR>Distant and withdrawn, Lilian shows little interest in her children or charming husband, and is far from the 'angel of the house' Ruby was expecting. As the warm, vivacious Charles welcomes Ruby into the family, a series of strange events forces her to question everything she thought she knew. Ostracised by the servants and feeling increasingly uneasy, Ruby must face her demons in order to prevent history from repeating itself. After all, there's no such thing as the perfect family - and she should know.<BR><BR>Simmering with slow-burning menace, Mrs England is a portrait of an Edwardian marriage, weaving an enthralling story of men and women, power and control, courage, truth and the very darkest deception. Set against the atmospheric West Yorkshire landscape, Stacey Halls' third novel proves her one of the most exciting and compelling new storytellers of our times.<BR><BR>'The new Hilary Mantel' Cosmopolitan

Ein bewegender historischer Roman über zwei ungleiche Frauen, die ihre Geheimnisse wahren und ihre Familien beschützen wollen.West Yorkshire, 1904. Ruby May hofft, dass ihre Stelle als Kindermädchen bei der wohlhabenden Familie England der lang ersehnte Neuanfang wird. Doch die schöne Mrs England verhält sich seltsam: Sie ist distanziert und verschlossen, zeigt kaum Interesse an ihren Kindern oder dem charmanten Ehemann. Mysteriöse Ereignisse umgeben sie. Je mehr Ruby über die Englands erfährt, desto mehr stellt sie alles infrage, was sie zu wissen glaubt und sieht sich mit ihren eigenen Dämonen konfrontiert. Denn Ruby und Mrs England haben mehr gemeinsam, als die beiden Frauen ahnen.Der neue historische Roman der Sunday-Times-Bestseller-AutorinStacey Halls, geboren 1989, wuchs in Rossendale, Lancashire auf. Neben einem Studium in Journalismus schrieb Halls u.a. für den Guardian, Psychologies und The Independent. Ihr erster Roman war in England das meistverkaufte Debüt 2019 und gewann den Betty Trask Award. Stacey Halls wird als neue Stimme des authentischen historischen Romans gefeiert. 'Mrs England' ist mittlerweile ihr dritter Roman.'Sehr fesselnd, bedrohlich und wunderbar geschrieben' - Daily Mail'Gefährlich, verlockend und wunderschön.'-Sunday Express'Hoch atmosphärisch und spannend.' Richard Osman

Don't miss Stacey Halls' incredible new novel THE HOUSEHOLD - available to buy now!<BR><BR>The captivating Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Familiars.<BR><BR>Two women, bound by a child, and a secret that will change everything . . .<BR><BR>London, 1754. Six years after leaving her illegitimate daughter Clara at London's Foundling Hospital, Bess Bright returns to reclaim the child she has never known. Dreading the worst, that Clara has died in care, Bess is astonished to be told she has already claimed her. Her life is turned upside down as she tries to find out who has taken her little girl - and why.<BR><BR>Less than a mile from Bess's lodgings in the city, in a quiet, gloomy townhouse on the edge of London, a young widow has not left the house in a decade. When her close friend - an ambitious young doctor at the Foundling Hospital - persuades her to hire a nursemaid for her daughter, she is hesitant to welcome someone new into her home and her life. But her past is threatening to catch up with her and tear her carefully constructed world apart.<BR><BR>From the bestselling author of The Familiars comes this captivating story of mothers and daughters, class and power, and love against the greatest of odds . . .<BR><BR>'The new Hilary Mantel' COSMOPOLITAN<BR><BR>'Stacey Halls is a writer of great originality, great imagination and great sense of place. Atmospheric, intelligent, accessible, every novel is worth reading, then reading again and again' KATE MOSSE<BR><BR>Another gripping, immersive, intelligent work of historical fiction from the bestselling author of The Familiars' KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE, author of THE MERCIES<BR><BR>A moving, atmospheric chiller' INDEPENDENT<BR><BR>'A breathtaking achievement' SUNDAY EXPRESS<BR><BR>'Enjoyable and atmospheric' THE TIMES<BR><BR>'Historical drama at its very best' MY WEEKLY <BR><BR><BR>**THE HOUSEHOLD, the brand new novel from Stacey Halls, is available to pre-order now**<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>*Sunday Times bestseller February and September 2020*<BR><BR>*Winner of Women's Prize for Fiction x Good Housekeeping Futures award - Good Housekeeping 14 Oct 2022*

**THE HOUSEHOLD, the brand new novel from Stacey Halls, is available to order now**<BR><BR>A gorgeous brand new cover edition of the Sunday Times Bestseller, Richard & Judy Book Club Pick and original break-out witchlit novel. Features an exclusive extract from THE HOUSEHOLD<BR><BR>To save her child, she will trust a stranger. To protect a secret, she must risk her life . . .<BR><BR>Fleetwood Shuttleworth is 17 years old, married, and pregnant for the fourth time. But as the mistress at Gawthorpe Hall, she still has no living child, and her husband Richard is anxious for an heir. When Fleetwood finds a letter she isn't supposed to read from the doctor who delivered her third stillbirth, she is dealt the crushing blow that she will not survive another pregnancy.<BR><BR>Then she crosses paths by chance with Alice Gray, a young midwife. Alice promises to help her give birth to a healthy baby, and to prove the physician wrong.<BR><BR>As Alice is drawn into the witchcraft accusations that are sweeping the North-West, Fleetwood risks everything by trying to help her. But is there more to Alice than meets the eye?<BR><BR>Soon the two women's lives will become inextricably bound together as the legendary trial at Lancaster approaches, and Fleetwood's stomach continues to grow. Time is running out, and both their lives are at stake.<BR><BR>Only they know the truth. Only they can save each other...<BR><BR>'Assured and alluring, this beautiful tale of women and witchcraft and the fight against power was a delight from start to finish' JESSIE BURTON<BR><BR>'Stacey Halls is a writer of great originality, great imagination and great sense of place. Atmospheric, intelligent, accessible, every novel is worth reading, then reading again and again' KATE MOSSE<BR><BR>'The new Hilary Mantel' COSMOPOLITAN<BR><BR>'Captivating' SUNDAY EXPRESS<BR><BR>'Arresting' THE TIMES<BR><BR>'A brilliant debut, pacy and inventive, from a terrifically talented new voice' DAILY TELEGRAPH<BR><BR>'Truly spellbinding' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING<BR><BR>'A must-read novel' HEATHER MORRIS bestselling author of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ<BR><BR>'Enthralling, spellbinding, full of twists and turns, written with heart and style - and the final chapters will have you racing to the end' KATE WILLIAMS<BR><BR>'Phenomenal. Beautiful, haunting, strange and evocative' LIZ HYDER<BR><BR>'Historical fiction at its feminist best' RED Magazine<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>*Sunday Times bestseller February and September 2018*