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‘Arresting… [a] tale of madness, murder, disputed inheritances and hints of the supernatural’ Sunday Times

‘Delicious … dark … sinister’ Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of number one bestseller, Pandora
‘Thrilling’ Emilia Hart, author of Sunday Times bestseller Weyward
‘Stunning’ Lianne Dillsworth, author of Theatre of Marvels
‘Marvellous’ Naomi Kelsey, author of The Burnings

Deep in the woods, something is stirring…

When Miss Catherine Symonds arrives to take up a position as governess at remote Locksley Abbey in the foothills of the Black Mountains, where England bleeds into Wales, she is apprehensive.

It is not the echoing, near empty house with its skeleton staff that frightens her, nor the ancient woods that surround the Abbey or even the dogs that the owner, Sir Rowland, encourages to stalk the grounds, baying for blood. It is Catherine herself who fears scrutiny: her reference and very identity are fraudulent. She is travelling in disguise to investigate the fate of the last governess at the house, who took her own life out in the woods. For that governess was Catherine’s own sister, but until now she had believed Emily had died many years before, when they were just children…

In the outstanding new novel from the author of the Sunday Times bestseller The Leviathan, an isolated forest becomes the unsettling, beguiling backdrop to a tale of myths, memory and murder…

Publisher Review

A richly layered Gothic mystery with delicious undertones of menace throughout, The Puzzle Wood is a story full of dark twists with an even darker heart at its sinister core — Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of number one bestseller, Pandora A thrilling trick mirror of a novel, full of twists and turns, myth and menace. Brilliant — Emilia Hart, author of Sunday Times bestseller Weyward A beguiling mystery, a mythical tale of a forest, and a fantastic Gothic romance rolled into one. Its intriguing secrets and complex characters kept me guessing to the very last page. What will you find hidden within – and beneath – The Puzzle Wood? — Laura Shepperson, author of Sunday Times bestseller, The Heroines An immediately engaging tale of dark secrets, myths and the supernatural, The Puzzle Wood pulls readers into its labyrinth and refuses to let you go — Alison Stockham, author of Sunday Times bestseller The Cuckoo Marvellous – gothic tropes are given new menace and intrigue, from the mysterious reclusive wife to the savage pack of hounds, the local superstitions vying with the man of science, the precocious sweet-but-creepy child, the sinister master, and many more. The writing is visceral, at once brutal and beautiful, and the plot is twistier than the trees of the eponymous wood. A wonderfully haunting and eerie novel — Naomi Kelsey, author of The Burnings The Puzzle Wood by Rosie Andrews is a twisty, masterfully creepy historical novel. It is a richly imagined gothic mystery, with a deep vein of the supernatural running beneath its roots. Perfect for fans of Mrs England by Stacey Halls, this dark tale is sure to enchant — Cailean Steed, author of Home The skilfully woven threads of this tale reveal a dark and stunning tapestry. Rosie Andrews has crafted an enthralling, original and deeply satisfying read. I loved it — Lianne Dillsworth, author of The Theatre of Marvels Wonderful. A dark, twisting immersive tale of deception & duplicity, skilfully embroidered with myth, murder & mystery. Gothic as it should be – beautifully written & crafted. Brava, Rosie Andrews — Kate Griffin Praise for The Leviathan: Darkly compelling and dripping with atmosphere, The Leviathan is a bewitching tale of good, evil and all of the shades in-between’ — Stacey Halls Praise for The Leviathan: Spectacular – deliciously creepy, immensely atmospheric and exquisitely written. Rosie Andrews is a phenomenal new voice in historical fiction — Lizzie Pook Praise for The Leviathan: It’s hard to believe that such an accomplished novel could be a debut – The Leviathan is a gloriously dark story that sweeps you along to its harrowing yet satisfying conclusion. Superb — Susan Stokes-Chapman