Hodder & Stoughton
Hodder & Stoughton
Perfect for anyone missing The Crown, this is a moving and unforgettable story of a lost dress worn by Princess Diana and the woman who made it.
A royal princess. A dress lost for decades. A love story waiting to be uncovered... London, 1988: Meredith has landed her dream job at London's most prestigious fashion house, creating beautiful gowns adorned with intricate beads and embroidery. But now Meredith is about to create a dress like no other for the most famous woman in the world: Diana, Princess of Wales.
As Meredith pours her heart into this career-defining dress, she works under the handsome and exacting William in the workroom.
William, and this commission, could end up changing her life in more ways than one...
New York, 1997: The red carpet has been rolled out on Park Avenue for the auction of Princess Diana's dresses for charity. Of the eighty items listed for sale, only seventy-nine will sell.
Because dress Number 19 is missing...
England, 2018: Jayne has met all the neighbours in her new building bar one: Mrs Chalis on the first floor. When she finally meets Meredith Chalis in the hallway, she is taken aback by how upset she seems and offers her help. Entering her home, Jayne immediately knows something is very wrong. The house is in complete disarray and there is no sign of Meredith's husband.
But then Jayne sees the most beautiful evening dress thrown over a chair and reads the note laid beside it.
Jayne realises that Meredith has an incredible story to tell... and only she can help uncover it...
'Missing The Crown? This glamorous love story will fill that space in your life' - Adele Parks
'A moving exploration into how clothes make up the layers of our lives, as well as a wonderful insight into the worlds of dressmaking, royalty and friendship across generations. I loved it' - Jessica Fellowes
'This gorgeous novel sweeps you from contemporary Bath to London in 1998, where a seamstress and a princess are inextricably entwined as they seek love and happiness. There are fabulous frocks and sumptuous descriptions, but also emotional depth, friendship and romance. It's glamorous, heartwarming and poignant, with a fascinating backdrop for anyone interested in fashion and royalty. A real page-turner - both escapist and satisfying, as all good books should be' - Veronica Henry
'A beautiful and deeply moving book about love, loss and found families... Tender, powerful and healing - Meredith and Jayne will stay with me forever. I loved this book' - Daisy Buchanan
'A wonderful story but also its poignant depiction of life with dementia. It offers readers an insight into understanding the complexities and challenges faced by people with dementia' - Dr Karen Harrison Dening, Head of Research & Publications, Dementia UK.
'Jade Beer deftly interweaves the lives of neighbours who become friends, then family as they search for a missing husband and an elusive past. An endearing story of loss and recovery, mystery and memory, heartache and love-and dresses... Completely captivating' - Shelley Noble
'Jade Beer's newest novel is a romantic, elegant story of two women who find they have much more in common than their Bath, England, apartment house. Uniting them is a gorgeous, historical dress that holds the key to their story. In glimmering, sumptuous details this exquisitely imagined novel unfolds in a way that leaves the reader completely captivated.'
- Jeanne Mackin