Description
An occult symbol. A deadly secret. Some mysteries go too deep . . .
Private detection is no profession for a woman of standing. Evie Winstanley doesn't care.
When Evie's father, a collector of occult books, dies in suspicious circumstances, she decides to uncover the truth. Her only clue is a mysterious reference to the 'circle of shadows.' Her investigation takes her from a seance in a manor house on the Yorkshire moors to a sinister cult hidden amongst the elite of an Oxford University college . . . and all the while, she is haunted by whispers of an ancient monster, and an ominous, ever-changing symbol.
When the body of a young woman is discovered floating in the Cherwell, marked with the same occult symbol, Evie realises that her investigation is far bigger than one death - and that her own life, and the lives of those she loves, might very well be in danger . . .
Blending historical fantasy with Golden Age classic crime, Circle of Shadows is a dark and twisty adventure through an occult Edwardian England where wealthy boys toy with powers they don't understand, and women are forced to pick up the pieces. Perfect for fans of Sarah Painter, Michelle Paver, and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.
About the Author
Marisa Linton is a Brighton-based professional historian, professor (Kingston University), writer and academic, specialising in the history of witchcraft and magical beliefs, revolution and terror. She has worked as a historical adviser, including for the TV series, Dangerous Liaisons (Starz/Lionsgate, 2022). Her previous published books have all been historical non-fiction, including Choosing Terror (Oxford University Press), about Terror in the French Revolution. She also writes for the popular history market such as BBC History Magazine. Marisa won the Times/Chicken House Prize in 2023 for her YA folk horror The Pouka King.
Reviews
I loved Marisa Linton's Circle of Shadows, the first adventure of Evie Winstanley, Occult Consulting Detective. I hope there are lots more to come * Greg Mosse, author of The Coming Darkness trilogy and The Maisie Cooper Mysteries *
A dark and twisty tale full of corrupt magic and even corrupter hearts, but also a stirring story about standing up to evil. A must-read for anyone who likes their academia dark! * Julia Golding, author of The Persephone Code *
Circle of Shadows is a terrifically engaging tale of supernatural goings-on in Edwardian England, complete with seances, spell books and sinister academic cults. I can't wait to read more adventures featuring resourceful investigator Evie Winstanley, who understands that men are capable of greater monstrosities than any demon * Tim Major, author of the Sherlock Holmes novel The Back to Front Murder *
Circle of Shadows is everything I want from dark academia-the cruelty and capriciousness of the elite; a tangled web of secret histories and utterly immersive occult folklore; and all the cleverness of a Golden Age detective story set in Edwardian England. Absolutely brilliant * Susan J. Morris, author of Strange Beasts and Wayward Souls *
Book Information
ISBN 9781399740180
Author Professor Marisa Linton
Format Hardback
Page Count 368
Imprint Hodderscape
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Series Evie Winstanley
Weight(grams) 540g
