Description

From a New York Times-bestselling author comes this daring account of one woman’s adventure among the most feared sea rovers of all time, perfect for fans of Kate Mosse and Jess Kidd

‘An absolute page turner, full of unexpected twists and turns.’ Celia Rees, author of Pirates!

She was one of the most terrifying seafarers of all time. This is her story.

The Golden Age of Piracy is drawing to a close when Hannah Masury watches the public hanging of the infamous William Fly in a Boston town square. Rumours about the location of Fly’s buried treasure are rampant, and when Hannah finds a clue as to where it might be hidden, she decides it’s time to take the future into her own hands.

Two centuries later in a dusty university archive, Professor Marian Beresford is captivated by Hannah’s story and the many unanswered questions she left behind. Hannah was determined to take her secrets with her to the grave, but in Marian, she might finally have met her match.

A True Account is the page-turning story of two women from two very different worlds, both shattering the rules of their own society, both willing to risk everything to forge their own adventure.

‘A feast for the sea-loving senses.’ Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary

Publisher Review

‘An absolute page turner, full of unexpected twists and turns. I really could not put it down.’ Celia Rees, author of Pirates! ‘A story of seafaring derring-do with a wonderful twist.’ Mail on Sunday ‘Dazzlingly fun historical fiction… A wild voyage of satisfying twists and an even more satisfying ending.’ Independent ‘Irresistible… A breathless adventure that will stay with you long after the final page has been read.’ Julie Walker, author of Bonny & Read ‘A feast for the sea-loving senses… This is more than just a pirate’s tale: it’s a story of abandoning convention in favour of self-discovery and exploring the sort of freedoms only the sea can offer.’ Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary ‘A wild ride. I loved this book.’ Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles ‘A True Account is a compelling tale of pirates, treasure hunting and wild adventure, wonderfully told in vivid detail. Sailing the high seas with Hannah Masury was an absolute thrill!’ Sophie Keetch, author of Morgan is My Name ‘Hannah Masury’s pirate tale reads like a fever dream, told in a voice so authentic and with such vivid, authoritative detail, it compels belief that this must indeed be a true account.’ Peter Nichols, author of A Voyage for Madmen ‘Katherine Howe richly evokes the social world of docks, ships, and seafaring outlaws, producing, in my view, one of the best ‘pirate novels’ ever written even better than ones by Daniel Defoe!’ Marcus Rediker, author of Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age ‘Right from the very start of this book, I found myself caught up in Hannah’s world. It is so vivid… I certainly felt like I’d been on a wild adventure whilst reading it [and] I really enjoyed the ride.’ Bookbag ‘A fiendish twist pulls its strands apart and braids them back together with the burnished patina of real historic discovery… A True Account belongs on the shelf beside Treasure Island.’ Lit Hub ‘A rich and immersive experience… Howe delivers an exciting and thought-provoking exploration of female resilience, challenging societal norms, and the pursuit of freedom. A must-read for those seeking a thrilling adventure.’ Nautilus ‘A suspenseful, swashbuckling adventure filled with fiendish characters and historical detail.’ Library Journal ‘Never less than intriguing. One of the real strengths of the novel is the portrait of two complex and powerful women. This is an insightful and thought-provoking feminist retelling of history.’ CrimeTime FM ‘There is no one I trust more with historical fiction than Katherine Howe, whose work always manages to capture not only the prosaic details of the past, but the lived experience of it… [a] swashbuckling story.’ CrimeReads, ‘Best Historical Fiction of 2023’