Minette Walter Libri

Non è stata una bella morte, quella di Mathilda Gillespie, rinvenuta nella vasca da bagno della sua casa, Cedar House, coi polsi recisi e, sul volto, a bloccare la lingua nella bocca spalancata, un «morso della bisbetica», uno strumento medievale di tortura imposto alle donne che parlavano troppo. Sebbene la quantità di sonniferi ingeriti e il taglierino sul pavimento del bagno sembrino dar credito all'ipotesi del suicidio, quella morte così teatrale non può non lasciare perplesso il sergente Cooper, incaricato delle indagini. Alla notizia della si aggiunge poi un fatto ancora più sconcertante: la defunta ha infatti cambiato il testamento due giorni prima di morire, nominando unica erede il suo medico curante, la dottoressa Sarah Blakeney, a scapito della figlia Joanna e della nipote Ruth. E mentre scoppia la guerra per l'eredità, il sergente Cooper sarà costretto a destreggiarsi tra accuse sussurrate e testimoni reticenti, alibi precari e moventi solidissimi, imboccando numerose strade senza uscita prima di scoprire chi ha voluto mettere a tacere per sempre la sarcastica padrona di Cedar House, e, con lei, il suo agghiacciante segreto...

Set against the backdrop of a small town, the story follows a young girl whose life takes an unexpected turn after a tragic event. As she navigates her grief, she forms an unlikely friendship with a troubled boy, leading to a journey of self-discovery and healing. Themes of loss, resilience, and the power of connection are explored, highlighting the complexities of adolescence and the challenges of growing up in a fractured world. Through vivid storytelling, the narrative captures the struggles and triumphs of finding hope amidst despair.

'Wonderful and sweeping, with a fabulous sense of place and history.' Kate Mosse on The Last Hours As the year 1349 approaches, the Black Death continues its devastating course across England. In Dorseteshire, the quarantined people of Develish question whether they are the only survivors. Guided by their beloved young mistress, Lady Anne, they wait, knowing that when their dwindling stores are finally gone they will have no choice but to leave. But where will they find safety in the desolate wasteland outside? One man has the courage to find out. Thaddeus Thurkell, a free-thinking, educated serf, strikes out in search of supplies and news. A compelling leader, he and his companions quickly throw off the shackles of serfdom and set their minds to ensuring Develish's future - and freedom for its people. But what use is freedom that cannot be gained lawfully? When Lady Anne and Thaddeus conceive an audacious plan to secure her people's independence, neither foresees the life-threatening struggle over power, money and religion that follows...

A sweeping historical adventure set during one of the most turbulent periods of British history - featuring a heroine you'll never forget...

In prison, they call her the Sculptress for the strange figurines she carves - symbols of the day she hacked her mother and sister to pieces and reassembled them in a blood-drenched jigsaw. Sullen and menacing, Olive Martin is burned-out journalist Rosalind Leigh's only hope of getting a new book published.But as she interviews Olive, in her cell, Roz finds flaws in the Sculptress's confession. Is she really guilty as she insists? Drawn into Olive's world of obsessional lies and love, nothing can stop Roz's pursuit of the chilling, convoluted truth. Not the tidy suburbanites who'd rather forget the murders, not a volatile ex-policeman and her own erotic response to him, not an attack on her life.Not even the thought of what might happen if the Sculptress went free...