The Visitors

A chilling debut inspired by high-profile cases of abduction and imprisonment that explores the complex truths we are able to keep hidden from ourselves and the gruesome realities that can lurk beneath the most serene of surfaces.

Marion Zetland lives with her domineering older brother, John, in a decaying Georgian townhouse on the edge of a bleak English seaside resort. A timid spinster in her fifties who still sleeps with teddy bears, Marion does her best to shut out the secret that John keeps locked away in the cellar.

But when questions are asked, and secrets unravel, we realise that John might not be the only one with a dark side . . .

Catherine Burns's dark, disturbing, and enthralling debut novel . . . is bizarrely unsettling, yet compulsively readable. - Iain Reid, author of I'm Thinking of Ending Things

A complex and chilling world in which nothing is as it seems. - Suellen Dainty, author of The Housekeeper and After Everything

By far the creepiest novel I have read in a long time ... a highly original and intriguing mystery. - Liz Nugent, author of Unravelling Oliver and Lying in Wait

Deliberate pacing, a claustrophobic setting, and vivid, unsympathetic characters complement the twisted plot and grim conclusion. - Publishers Weekly

“Catherine Burns's dark, disturbing, and enthralling debut novel . . . is bizarrely unsettling, yet compulsively readable . - Iain Reid, author of I m Thinking of Ending ThingsAtmospheric, eerie and affecting. Catherine Burns has created a complex and chilling world in which nothing is as it seems. - Suellen Dainty, author of THE HOUSEKEEPER and AFTER EVERYTHINGBurns blurs the line between crime fiction and horror... Deliberate pacing, a claustrophobic setting, and vivid, wildly unsympathetic characters complement the twisted plot and grim conclusion. - Publishers WeeklyA dark and thrilling debut novel: disturbing, gripping, and hugely impressive. - The BookbagBy far the creepiest novel I have read in a long time . . . a highly original and intriguing mystery - Liz Nugent, author of UNRAVELLING OLIVER and LYING IN WAITA compellingly creepy tale of twisted loyalty and dark family secrets, full of a slow-building suspense and a horribly fascinating sense of the macabre. - TM Logan, author of LIESEnglish first-time author Burnswas brought up on Gothic horror, to which she adds a modern touch. - West AustralianA beautifully written story that flows well. Keeping the reader engrossed in this dark, gritty and inviting tale that explores the darker side of human nature, then look no further than this debut novel from Catherine Burns. - Review Corner Blog”

Catherine Burns's dark, disturbing, and enthralling debut novel . . . is bizarrely unsettling, yet compulsively readable. - Iain Reid, author of I m Thinking of Ending Things

Atmospheric, eerie and affecting. Catherine Burns has created a complex and chilling world in which nothing is as it seems. - Suellen Dainty, author of THE HOUSEKEEPER and AFTER EVERYTHING

Burns blurs the line between crime fiction and horror... Deliberate pacing, a claustrophobic setting, and vivid, wildly unsympathetic characters complement the twisted plot and grim conclusion. - Publishers Weekly

A dark and thrilling debut novel: disturbing, gripping, and hugely impressive. - The Bookbag

By far the creepiest novel I have read in a long time . . . a highly original and intriguing mystery - Liz Nugent, author of UNRAVELLING OLIVER and LYING IN WAIT

A compellingly creepy tale of twisted loyalty and dark family secrets, full of a slow-building suspense and a horribly fascinating sense of the macabre. - TM Logan, author of LIES

English first-time author Burnswas brought up on Gothic horror, to which she adds a modern touch. - West Australian

A beautifully written story that flows well. Keeping the reader engrossed in this dark, gritty and inviting tale that explores the darker side of human nature, then look no further than this debut novel from Catherine Burns. - Review Corner Blog

Catherine Burns was born and raised in Manchester, studied at Trinity College Cambridge and then worked as a bond trader in the City of London for six years. Following a course at The Moscow Film institute, Catherine lectured in Film and Television Studies at Salford University.

Raised on gothic literature such as Wilkie Collins and Edgar Allan Poe, Catherine soon found a love for the dark and sinister side to stories. THE VISITORS is Catherine's debut novel.

Follow Catherine on Twitter @C_Burnzi

A chilling debut inspired by high-profile cases of abduction and imprisonment that explores the complex truths we are able to keep hidden from ourselves and the gruesome realities that can lurk beneath the most serene of surfaces.Marion Zetland lives with her domineering older brother, John, in a decaying Georgian townhouse on the edge of a bleak English seaside resort. A timid spinster in her fifties who still sleeps with teddy bears, Marion does her best to shut out the secret that John keeps locked away in the cellar.But when questions are asked, and secrets unravel, we realise that John might not be the only one with a dark side . . .Catherine Burns's dark, disturbing, and enthralling debut novel . . . is bizarrely unsettling, yet compulsively readable . - Iain Reid, author of I'm Thinking of Ending Things A complex and chilling world in which nothing is as it seems . - Suellen Dainty, author of The Housekeeper and After Everything By far the creepiest novel I have read in a long time ... a highly original and intriguing mystery . - Liz Nugent, author of Unravelling Oliver and Lying in Wait Deliberate pacing, a claustrophobic setting, and vivid, unsympathetic characters complement the twisted plot and grim conclusion . - Publishers Weekly

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