'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 Hilary
Is prisoner Ruth Butterham mad or a murderer? Victim or 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 - and self-confessed murderess - who nurses a dark and uncanny secret. A secret that is leading her straight to the gallows. As Ruth reveals her disturbing past to Dorothea, the fates of these two women entwine, and with every revelation, a new layer of doubt is cast...
Can Ruth be trusted? Is she mad, or a murderer?
Review
A compelling slice of early Victorian gothic . Vivid and well researched, this book is an evocative portrait of a society that punishes women who dare to contravene social norms . as well as a splendid mystery with suitably melodramatic flourishes (Guardian)
The Silent Companions was a chillingly note-perfect take on Victorian gothic and [Purcell] makes a brilliant return to the genre with this much-anticipated tale ... Heart-pounding . A classic Victorian tale of murder most foul, twisted with a curious supernatural thread (Stylist)
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 (Stacy Halls, author of Sunday Times bestseller, The Familiars)
The Corset[sent] chills shooting down my spine ... Nods to the classic gothic novel and Sarah Waters's Affinity (Red)
This gothic chiller casts an addictive spell (Sunday Mirror)
Intricate, atmospheric and chilling - with a wonderfully dark premise at its heart (Woman & Home)
[A] thrilling, chilling Gothic tale . [A] deliciously dark mystery (Psychologies)
Chilling ... All but the most cynical will find it hard to stop turning the pages (Observer)
The Silent Companions wasa gothic masterpiece and The Corset follows with confidence ... 16-year-old Ruth is on trial for murder but finds herself on the receiving end of Dorothea Truelove's charitable ministrations ... their joint narrative twists and turns, leading readers to the most haunting of endings (Emerald Street)
Deliciously creepy and atmospheric with a gripping plot, this book will disturb your sleep. And I didn't see THAT ending coming (Sarah J. Harris, author of 'The Colour of Bee Larkham’s Murder')
Book Description
'The Corset is a contender for my Book of the Year. Beautifully written, intricately plotted, a masterpiece' Sarah Hilary
'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 Sunday Times bestseller, The Familiars
The captivating and unsettling new novel from the award winning author of The Silent Companions
About the Author
Laura Purcell is a former bookseller and lives in Colchester with her husband and pet guinea pigs. The Silent Companions was a Radio 2 and Zoe Ball ITV Book Club pick and was the winner of the WHSmith Thumping Good Read Award, while The Corset was acclaimed as a 'masterpiece' by readers and reviewers alike.
Her third novel for Raven Books, Bone China, will be published in Autumn 2019.