Description

‘Compulsive, heartbreaking’ Clare Leslie Hall
‘Gorgeously written’ Jennie Godfrey
‘A tale of dazzle and determination’ Daily Mail

FOUR WOMEN. A MILLION DREAMS.

Scotland, 1910. Born into the world of the circus, Lena now stands at a crossroads. With the sudden death of her father, she faces a stark choice: get married or get a job. The fairgrounds are no place for a woman to go it alone.

Until flame-haired Violet, known to all as ‘the greatest trapeze artist that ever lived’, suggests they do exactly that. With her outspoken ways and her refusal to marry, Violet is as much an outcast as Lena. What do they have to lose?

Recruiting new performers including bareback horse-rider Rosie and acrobat Carmen, the four women take charge of their own show, their own finances and their own destinies.

But the fairgrounds are a dangerous place: misogyny is rife, violence a continual threat, and buried secrets are beginning to threaten all they hold dear. Together, they must forge their own path to freedom.

FOR THEY ARE THE SHOW WOMEN. AND THE SHOW MUST GO ON.

READERS LOVE THE SHOW WOMAN
‘Held my interest to the very last page’
‘Complete sensory immersion, such is the depth and breadth of the descriptive narrative’
‘Beautifully written, lovable characters, gripping narrative’
‘This extraordinary debut is bursting with energy and imagination’
‘A terrific read’

Publisher Review

Suspenseful, authentic, sexy and uplifting. Beautiful writing plunges the reader into the showgrounds of Edwardian Scotland, sights, sounds, smells and all — Erin Kelly This gorgeously written novel about four very different women is compulsive, heartbreaking and like nothing else. Impossible not to get swept up into the fates of Lena, Violet, Rosie and Carmen and to feel yourself there with all the noise and clamour and conniving of the fairground. I loved it — Clare Leslie Hall An utterly electric debut! I wanted to run away with this all-woman circus. An enthralling, dynamic tale that will stay with me for a very long time — C.J. Cooke Suspenseful, authentic, sexy and uplifting. Beautiful writing plunges the reader into the showgrounds of Edwardian Scotland, sights, sounds, smells and all — Erin Kelly Gorgeously written, with twists and turns worthy of a circus trapeze — Jennie Godfrey Beautifully crafted, fast-paced and compelling … easily the debut of the year so far! — Mike Gayle Absolutely loved soaking up the atmosphere of the circus and fairground in The Show Woman. There’s hardship and excitement and mystery and joy in this novel, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages — Sarah L. Brooks A very special debut — Jenny Colgan A fascinating read. Full of twists and turns as unexpected as they are thrilling. I was gripped by the strong female characters, spellbound by the dangers, but moved to tears by the bonds of love. Richly detailed, this story will beguile you and carry you away to a rarely glimpsed world of dark secrets and powerful emotions — Kate Furnivall An entrancing story of chosen family, sisterhood and freedom. I was so wrapped up in the lives of these women, revealed in prose so visceral and alive I felt immediately transported to its history. Take your seat and get lost in its wonders — Wiz Wharton Wonderfully heartfelt and compelling — Joanna Miller What an irresistible and original premise! I loved reading every word . . . The Show Woman is as enthralling as the spectacular circus act that Emma so beautifully describes — Fiza Saeed McLynn Set in Edwardian Scotland, The Show Woman is a wonderfully told story that mixes adventures, romance, crimes, and feisty women, all against the backdrop of a circus run by women. Gripping, heartbreaking, compelling, I genuinely could not put it down — Naomi Kelsey Dazzling . . . like all the very best historical fiction it has characters who are alive and real and brings the past to glorious life, with a page-turning plot that meant I could not put it down — Kate Foster Beautifully written, engaging plot and thoroughly researched * STYLIST * A joy to read, so beautifully written, evoking the rich and often overlooked story of the travelling fairs of Edwardian-era Scotland — Sean Lusk