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- Two Roads
- Two Roads
- Two Roads
Scotland, Historical fiction, Legal history
Glasgow 1817 and a young deaf woman is accused of infanticide but is she fit to stand trial? The teacher sent to investigate moves from interpreter to investigator, as he determines to clear her name before it's too late. Based on a true story.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE CWA HISTORICAL DAGGER 2023
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BLOODY SCOTLAND DEBUT PRIZE 2022
SHORTLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN 2022
Glasgow, 1817: Jean Campbell - a young, Deaf woman - is witnessed throwing a child into the River Clyde from the Old Bridge.
If found guilty she faces one of two fates; death by hanging or incarceration in an asylum. But Jean's deafness leaves her isolated and unable to defend herself, until the authorities call in Robert Kinniburgh, a talented teacher from the Deaf & Dumb Institution.
Through a difficult process of trial and error, Robert and Jean manage to find a rudimentary way of communicating with each other. As Jean grows to trust Robert, she reveals what really happened on that bridge over the river Clyde. And Robert, now embroiled in this dark case, must act quickly to ensure justice is served, before it is too late.
'Based on a case from Scottish legal history, Smith's novel skilfully combines crime fiction with a woman's struggle to speak the truth' The Times
'Fascinating' Sally Magnusson
More books by Sarah Smith
Praise for Hear No Evil: Shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger 2023
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I loved Hear No Evil, beautifully written and a real page turner with characters whose company I enjoyed greatly. It evoked the Edinburgh of that time brilliantly and vividly and gave such a wonderful insight into the early quest to understand and give a voice to people who cannot hear. The historical evocation of Edinburgh and the dramatic murder story were both so well done and so rewarding.
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A fascinating exploration of deafness and human value amid the sights, sounds and smells of urban Scotland in 1817. - Sally Magnusson
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A striking and stylish literary page-turner that breathes life into the past, illuminating a fascinating corner of history by revealing its lost voices and contemporary resonance. Smith's evocative storytelling and willingness to probe the murkier reaches of the human psyche make her a talent to watch! - Zoe Strachan
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