The library thief

Kuchenga Shenjé

£9.99

1896. After he brought her home from Jamaica as a baby, Florence’s father had her hair hot-combed to make her look like the other girls. But as a young woman, Florence is not so easy to tame – and when she brings scandal to his door, the bookbinder throws her onto the streets of Manchester. Intercepting her father’s latest commission, Florence talks her way into the remote, forbidding Rose Hall to restore its collection of rare books. Lord Francis Belfield’s library is old and full of secrets – but none so intriguing as the whispers about his late wife. Then one night, the library is broken into. Strangely, all the priceless tomes remain untouched. Florence is puzzled, until she discovers a half-burned book in the fireplace. She realises with horror that someone has found and set fire to the secret diary of Lord Belfield’s wife – which may hold the clue to her fate.

In stock

Publish Date: 06/03/2025
ISBN: 9781408726839 Category: Tags: ,

Description

The Binding meets The Vanishing Half in this extraordinary historical debut – perfect for readers who love gothic mysteries with books at the heart of them, as well as stories about people often overlooked by history.

‘Intriguingly and superbly plotted. Weaves race, identity, feminism, sexuality and class into a beguiling mystery’ Woman & Home

Some secrets are too scandalous to conceal…

Since they left Jamaica for England, Florence’s father has tried to tame her – from hot-combing her unruly hair to training her in the art of bookbinding. But when Florence brings scandal to his door, he throws her onto the streets.

Florence has nowhere to turn until, intercepting her father’s commission to restore a private library, she talks her way into the remote, imposing Rose Hall. There, even the wonders of Lord Belfield’s library can’t distract Florence from the whisper of scandal around the late lady of the house and her black maid.

Then one night, someone breaks into the library – yet strangely, they take none of the priceless tomes. Discovering a half-burned diary in the fireplace, Florence holds the key to a mystery that will reshape everything she knows about herself, and shake Rose Hall to its very foundations . . .

‘Swells with secrecy and intrigue’ Candice Carty-Williams, author of Queenie
‘A love letter to the golden age of Du Maurier and Bronte. Lyrical, beguiling and powerfully relevant’ Juno Dawson, author of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven
‘If this book’s a thief of anything – it was of my attention. I was hooked’ Cari Thomas, author of Threadneedle
‘Powerful and wholly original’ Joanne Burn, author of The Hemlock Cure
‘Gut-wrenchingly conveys a unique historical perspective on race, gender and sexuality. [For] fans of Sarah Waters and Bridget Collins’ Library Journal
‘I was blown away’ Stacey Thomas, author of The Revels
‘Atmospheric, compelling Victorian gothic with a fresh twist’ Freya Berry, author of The Birdcage Library

Additional information

Weight 280 g
Dimensions 196 × 126 × 30 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Paperback

Pages

392

Language

English

Edition

1st paperback ed

Dewey

823.92 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K