The Hemlock Cure

Perfect for readers of Hamnet and The Manningtree Witches

'Vivid and poetic' JENNIFER SAINT

'Exquisitely written' SONIA VELTON

'Page-turning' SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN

'Fascinating' LIZ HYDER

'Heart-wrenching' REBECCA F. JOHN

'Wholly original' SARAH BURTON

'Exquisite' EMMA CARROLL

'Bewitching' ROZ WATKINS

'Beautiful' ANNIE GARTHWAITE

'Spellbinding' NIKKI MARMERY

'Mesmerizing' ROSIE ANDREWS

It is 1665 and the women of Eyam keep many secrets.

Isabel Frith, the village midwife, walks a dangerous line with her herbs and remedies. There are men in the village who speak of witchcraft, and Isabel has a past to hide. So she tells nobody her fears about Wulfric, the pious, reclusive apothecary.

Mae, Wulfric's youngest daughter, dreads her father's rage if he discovers what she keeps from him. Like her feelings for Rafe, Isabel's ward, or that she studies from Wulfric's forbidden books at night.

But others have secrets too. Secrets darker than any of them could have imagined.

When Mae makes a horrifying discovery, Isabel is the only person she can turn to. But helping Mae will place them both in unspeakable peril.

And meanwhile another danger is on its way from London. One that threatens to engulf them all . . .

Based on the real history of an English village during the Great Plague, The Hemlock Cure is an utterly beguiling tale of fear and ambition, betrayal, self-sacrifice and the unbreakable bond between two women.

“Spellbinding . . . a dazzling act of reclamation of the truth of women's lives . . . This is a compassionate and intensely moving novel that is rich in meaning and hugely resonant for our own plague-struck era. Deeply unsettling, tense, yet ultimately hopeful, The Hemlock Cure sweeps the reader up into its potions, scents, colours and secrets. It is affecting and beautifully observed - a mesmerising novel.'”

An exquisitely written tale of resilience and reckoning, with female protagonists that are just the right blend of compassion and simmering rebellion -- SONIA VELTON, author of 'Blackberry and Wild Rose'
An intricate, detailed and beautifully written story of the women of Eyam. It's vivid and poetic, powerfully building tension as their secrets unravel. -- JENNIFER SAINT, Sunday times bestselling author of 'Ariadne'

Artfully written and nuanced, The Hemlock Cure is a carefully researched take on Eyam's sad history, with a rich cast of characters that keep you turning the page.

-- SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN, author of 'Pandora'
In a wholly original take on the Eyam story, Joanne Burn's elegant prose, rich in authentic detail, results in a rewarding and timely read -- SARAH BURTON, author of 'The Strange Adventures of H'
Lyrically written, The Hemlock Cure propels the reader into the seventeenth-century world of potions and mystery. These are not powerless women but women with their own sense of ambition and destiny. -- RHIANNON WARD, author of 'The Quickening'

Spellbinding and profound, The Hemlock Cure is a dazzling act of reclamation of the truth of women's lives. Burn writes beautifully about female courage and retribution, of the ties that make and bind a family, and different ways of belonging. This is a compassionate and intensely moving novel that is rich in meaning and hugely resonant for our own plague-struck era.

-- NIKKI MARMERY, author of 'On Wilder Seas'

Set against the backdrop of Eyam's famous plague, this page-turning novel delves deep into danger. The darkest threats, we learn, come not from illness or contagion, but from cruelties encompassed by those closest to us. The juxtaposition of external and internal threats - the disease that prowls, the people who share your home - creates a growing tension that had me turning pages late into the night. And the writing is beautiful - its delicacy and precision creating a strong sense of place - full of scents, sounds and texture.

-- ANNIE GARTHWAITE, author of 'Cecily'
A beautiful, bewitching and powerful tale of brave women's lives. I absolutely loved it. -- ROZ WATKINS, author of 'The Devil's Dice'
The writing is exquisite, the period detail sensuous and immersive. I can't stop thinking about this beautiful story. -- EMMA CARROLL, author of 'Frost Hollow Hall'
Deeply unsettling, tense, yet ultimately hopeful, The Hemlock Cure sweeps the reader up into its potions, scents, colours and secrets. It is affecting and beautifully observed - a mesmerising novel -- ROSIE ANDREWS, author of 'The Leviathan'
A beautifully written page-turner. An interesting period of history portrayed in a unique way -- CAROLE MATTHEWS
Beautifully written, dark, hopeful, and utterly fascinating. Jam-packed with historical detail and a whole host of intriguing characters with secrets to hide. Made me want to retrain as a herbalist. -- LIZ HYDER, author of 'The Gifts'

Joanne Burn was born in Northampton in 1973, and now lives in the Peak District where she works as a writing coach. She is the author of two previous novels, Petals and Stones and The Hemlock Cure.

She can found on Instagram at @joanne.burn and at

Perfect for readers of Hamnet and The Manningtree Witches 'Vivid and poetic' JENNIFER SAINT 'Exquisitely written' SONIA VELTON 'Page-turning' SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN 'Fascinating' LIZ HYDER 'Heart-wrenching' REBECCA F. JOHN 'Wholly original' SARAH BURTON 'Exquisite' EMMA CARROLL 'Bewitching' ROZ WATKINS 'Beautiful' ANNIE GARTHWAITE 'Spellbinding' NIKKI MARMERY 'Mesmerizing' ROSIE ANDREWS It is 1665 and the women of Eyam keep many secrets. Isabel Frith, the village midwife, walks a dangerous line with her herbs and remedies. There are men in the village who speak of witchcraft, and Isabel has a past to hide. So she tells nobody her fears about Wulfric, the pious, reclusive apothecary.Mae, Wulfric's youngest daughter, dreads her father's rage if he discovers what she keeps from him. Like her feelings for Rafe, Isabel's ward, or that she studies from Wulfric's forbidden books at night. But others have secrets too. Secrets darker than any of them could have imagined. When Mae makes a horrifying discovery, Isabel is the only person she can turn to. But helping Mae will place them both in unspeakable peril.And meanwhile another danger is on its way from London. One that threatens to engulf them all . . . Based on the real history of an English village during the Great Plague, The Hemlock Cure is an utterly beguiling tale of fear and ambition, betrayal, self-sacrifice and the unbreakable bond between two women.

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