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- Quercus
Durham, Historical fiction
'An utterly thrilling gothic tale' KIRSTY WARK
'Rich in atmosphere and suspense' BELLA ELLIS
'Two unforgettable heroines' ELLY GRIFFITHS
Dark and brimming with suspense, an atmospheric Victorian chiller set in brooding County Durham for fans of Stacey Halls and Laura Purcell
1871. An age of discovery and progress. But for the Wainwright family, residents of the gloomy Teesbank Hall in County Durham the secrets of the past continue to overshadow their lives.
Harriet would not have taken the job of governess in such a remote place unless she wanted to hide from something or someone. Her charge is Eleanor, the daughter of the house, a fiercely bright eighteen-year-old, tortured by demons and feared by relations and staff alike. But it soon becomes apparent that Harriet is not there to teach Eleanor, but rather to monitor her erratic and dangerous behaviour - to spy on her.
Worn down by Eleanor's unpredictable hostility, Harriet soon finds herself embroiled in Eleanor's obsession - the Wainwright's dark, tragic history. As family secrets are unearthed, Harriet's own begin to haunt her and she becomes convinced that ghosts from the past are determined to reveal her shameful story.
For Harriet, like Eleanor, is plagued by deception and untruths.
'Terrific characters' ELIZABETH BUCHAN
'A deliciously unsettling tale' SONIA VELTON
'Gothic ingredients given a modern twist' HOPE ADAMS
More books by Helen Scarlett
Praise for The Deception of Harriet Fleet
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An utterly thrilling Gothic tale of two women, secretly striving to break free from the female conventions of Victorian England
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Rich in atmosphere and suspense, The Deception of Harriet Fleet is a deliciously dark and Gothic tale that transports you into the Victorian age
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This book could have been written especially for me as it contains all my favourite things: Gothic setting, wild landscape, family secrets and not one but two unforgettable heroines. A richly enjoyable read that has a lot to say about women's lives, then and now
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I so enjoyed this. With terrific characters and a deep feeling for the Gothic, this is quite a debut. Helen Scarlett is obviously a writer who will go far
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I was completely transported to bleak Teesbank Hall where the corridors echo with murder and madness. The Deception of Harriet Fleet is a deliciously unsettling tale with women, and their quest for truth, independence and fulfilment, at its dark, Gothic heart
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Raced through this engrossing debut. It's a tale full of familiar Gothic ingredients given a modern twist. Just the ticket for a chilly January night
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A fabulously engrossing mystery - a richly woven tale of Victorian Gothic suspense that's spine-tingling, riveting and keeps you guessing to the end. The Secret Garden meets Jane Eyre
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A haunting, richly imagined novel, suffused with dread. Harriet Fleet's is the poignant story of a brave woman fighting to break free from the constraints of society and the grip of demons past and present. A captivating book
Helen Scarlett
Helen Scarlett is a writer and English teacher. Her debut historical novel, The Deception of Harriet Fleet, a chilling take on nineteenth-century classics such as Jane Eyre, was highly praised. Her second novel, The Lodger, is another Gothic tale set in London in the aftermath of the Great War. Helen lives in County Durham with her husband and two daughters.
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