Lodger

London, 1919: a city of ghosts and absences, haunted by the men who marched away but never came back.

“An utterly thrilling Gothic tale of two women secretly striving to break free from the female conventions of Victorian England - KIRSTY WARK on The Deception of Harriet Fleet Rich in atmosphere and suspense ... a deliciously dark and Gothic tale that transports you into the Victorian age - BELLA ELLIS, author of The Bronte Mysteries on The Deception of Harriet Fleet This book could have been written especially for me as it contains all my favourite things: Gothic setting, wild landscape, family secrets and not one but two unforgettable heroines. A richly enjoyable read that has a lot to say about women's lives, then and now - ELLY GRIFFITHS, author of the Dr Ruth Galloway Mysteries on The Deception of Harriet FleetI so enjoyed this. With terrific characters and a deep feeling for the Gothic , this is quite a debut. Helen Scarlett is obviously a writer who will go far - ELIZABETH BUCHAN, author of The Museum of Broken Promises on The Deception of Harriet Fleet”

A poignant and readable mystery The Times
[Helen Scarlett] has a gift for pulling readers into the twists and turns of her story Sunday Times
A gripping historical mystery that confounds the impossible. The Lodger takes the longing of wartime heartbreak and wraps it in a wickedly deadly conundrum A. J. West, author of THE SPIRIT ENGINEER
I was gripped. A clever and richly imagined recreation of the Edwardian world with all its politesse and hypocrisies after the First World War Elizabeth Buchan, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME
An intriguing mystery layered with deeper themes of loss and regeneration after the Great War. London in 1919 is richly atmospheric, and Grace Armstrong is a sympathetic and spirited protagonist V. B. Grey, author of SISTERHOOD
The atmosphere of post-WW1 London is beautifully evoked and richly detailed . . . I loved the character of Grace . . . It deserves to be a huge hit Sarah Smith, author of HEAR NO EVIL
A ghostly, immersive mystery threaded with twists and turns as evocative as the 20th-century London in which it is set . . . A devastating reveal and a tangled web I won't forget Amanda Geard, author of THE MIDNIGHT HOUSE
A deliciously Gothic page-turner Best
An atmospheric, haunting tale Woman's Own
An atmospheric and tense period piece that drips in gothic brilliance Sun

Helen Scarlett is a writer and English teacher. Her debut historical novel, The Deception of Harriet Fleet, a chilling take on nineteenth-century classics such as Jane Eyre, was highly praised. Her second novel, The Lodger, is another Gothic tale set in London in the aftermath of the Great War. Helen lives in County Durham with her husband and two daughters.

This second novel from the author of The Deception of Harriet Fleet takes us back to the aftermath of the Great War in another haunting, atmospheric Gothic tale. London in 1919 was a city of ghosts and absences, haunted by the men who marched away but never came back from 'the war to end all wars.'Grace Armstrong believes that she has come to terms with her own loss, the death of her fiance, the brilliant and dazzling best friend of her brother. He was declared Missing in Action during the Battle of the Somme, but he starts to reappear both in her waking life and dreams.Grace is appalled when a body, dragged from the Thames, is identified as Elizabeth Smith, who has lodged with Grace and her family for the last eight years before suddenly disappearing.Elizabeth had been more than a lodger; she had become a close friend to Grace, who feels compelled to find out what happened. In doing so she is drawn reluctantly into the sordid and dangerous underbelly of London and a scandal that rocked Edwardian society. Soon Grace finds herself under threat, and the only person prepared to listen is the brooding Tom Monaghan. But Tom has dark shadows of his own to navigate before being able to put his past behind him to help Grace in her quest for the truth.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.