Author: laurapurcell

In this “uncanny gothic mystery” (The New York Times Book Review), Victorian phrenologist Dorothea Truelove questions the limits of reality when she meets an imprisoned seamstress who claims her stitching has deadly, supernatural powers. “Chilling and engrossing” (Kirkus Reviews), with over 3,400 five-star Goodreads ratings.

‘Laura is a masterful writer, her deliciously gothic stories so skilfully woven that you can’t get them out of your head even if you wanted to’ Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars’The Corset is a contender for my Book of the Year. Beautifully written, intricately plotted, a masterpiece’ Sarah HilaryIs prisoner Ruth Butterham mad or a murderer? Victim or villain?Dorothea Truelove is young, … villain?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 finds herself drawn to Ruth, a teenage seamstress -…

“Atmospheric, eerie” (Publishers Weekly): After her new husband dies, Elsie discovers a wooden figure in his house with an uncanny resemblance to herself. “A virtually flawless work of Gothic fiction… reminiscent of the work of all the greats, particularly Shirley Jackson and Daphne du Maurier” (Library Journal).