Elizabeth Macneal

FROM THE CREATORS OF THE HAUNTING SEASON AND THE WINTER SPIRITS COMES A BRAND NEW COLLECTION OF GHOSTLY TALES Featuring new and original stories from: Michelle Paver Stacey Halls Bridget Collins Imogen Hermes Gowar Kiran Millwood Hargrave Andrew Michael Hurley Jess Kidd Natasha Pulley Elizabeth Macneal Susan Stokes-Chapman Laura Shepherd-Robinson Stuart Turton Catriona Ward _________ There is something peculiar about the hour after midnight. It is the time when darkness reigns. And strange things roam the earth. In this dazzling collection of new and original haunted tales, thirteen bestselling and much-loved authors bring this hour to vivid, spine-tingling life. So curl up, light a candle, and wait for the clocks to strike . . .

FROM THE CREATORS OF THE HAUNTING SEASON AND THE WINTER SPIRITS COMES A BRAND NEW COLLECTION OF GHOSTLY TALESFeaturing new and original stories from:Michelle PaverStacey HallsBridget CollinsImogen Hermes GowarKiran Millwood HargraveAndrew Michael HurleyJess KiddNatasha PulleyElizabeth MacnealSusan Stokes-ChapmanLaura Shepherd-RobinsonStuart TurtonCatriona Ward_________There is something peculiar about the hour after midnight.It is the time when darkness reigns.And strange things roam the earth.In this dazzling collection of original haunted tales, thirteen bestselling and much-loved authors bring the old superstition of the witching hour to new and vivid life.Transporting you from the smog of London to the freezing mists of Svalbard, from an Irish town riddled with rumour to a sinister English boarding school, these thirteen stories will serve as your spinetingling companion to the long hours of winter.So curl up, light a candle, and wait for the clock to strike . . .

1866. I en kystby i det sydlige England bor pigen Nell. Hun ser anderledes ud, og en dag bliver hun bemærket af Jasper Jupiters forunderlige cirkus. Cirkusejeren ser potentiale i pletterne på Nells krop og køber hende. På trods af stor uvilje begynder Nell langsomt at føle et fællesskab blandt de andre artister og tage ansvar for egen skæbne. Fascinationen af det aparte er stor, og i London står folk i kø for at se showet med Jaspers hovedattraktion: Nell, der flyver højt oppe under teltdugen. Men tingene kompliceres, da hun får følelser for Jaspers bror, Toby, og begynder at drømme stort.”Det forunderlige cirkus” foregår i 1800-tallets Victoriatid og er et trekantsdrama om magtforhold, forskellighed, kærlighed og cirkusliv – samt håb, mod og kontakt.”Macneals anden roman er både spændende og menneskelig og vækker den brutale verden omkring et freakshow til live.” – Mail on Sunday”Smukt skrevet og fuld af karakter og liv.” – The Times”Vidunderlig – fuldstændig forførende.” – Daily MailElizabeth Macneal er keramiker og forfatter, født og opvokset i Skotland og bosiddende i London. Hendes første roman ”Dukkeværkstedet” blev en stor international bestseller, som er oversat til 29 sprog. ”Det forunderlige cirkus” er hendes anden roman.

London, 1850. I Hyde Park strømmer folk til for at se byggeriet af Crystal Palace. Det gælder også unge Iris, der har taget en fridag fra arbejdet i Mrs. Salters Dukkeværksted. I parken møder hun den sære konservator Silas, der drømmer om at udstille sin samling af bizarre udstoppede dyr på Verdensudstillingen. Deres møde bliver for Silas starten på en altødelæggende besættelse - og skæbnesvangert for Iris, der også drømmer om at slå igennem som kunstner. Da hun accepterer jobbet som model for en af tidens eksperimenterende kunstnere, bliver det starten på et helt nyt liv.Dukkeværkstedet er en historisk og psykologisk roman, der tager læserne med til Jack the Rippers London. En by der i 1850erne er fuld af farer og menneskelig ulykke, skræmmende mænd og freakshows på den ene side, og kvindefrigørelse, moderne kunst, videnskab og arkitektur på den anden. Byen og dens skæbner er lige så sanseligt og urovækkende beskrevet som Paris i Patrick Süskinds Parfumen."En skræmmende, vidunderligt stemningsfuld fortælling om kærlighed, kunst og besættelse." - Paula Hawkins, bestsellerforfatter"En fantastisk selvsikker debutroman med en autentisk følelse af tid og sted ... seriøst spændende." - Ian RankinElizabeth Macneal er født i Skotland og bor i London. Hun er uddannet fra Oxford University og arbejder som keramiker. Dukkeværkstedet er hendes debutroman.

'Ingenious' - The Sunday Times'I genuinely could not put this down' – Stacey Halls'A tour de force of a gothic thriller. I devoured it' – Gillian McAllisterShe wants him. He'll take Everything.Bonnie is running from a terrible crime. She and her lover Crawford have gone too far this time, and now she needs to disappear.When Crawford secures her a position as lady’s maid in a grand house on the Thames, Bonnie thinks she has found safety. But Endellion is a strange place, haunted by the recent death of its mistress. As Bonnie comes to understand the family who live here, she begins to question what secrets might be lying behind the house’s paper-thin walls. Because Crawford is watching, and perhaps he is plotting his greatest trick yet . . .A Victorian gothic thriller from Elizabeth Macneal, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory.'Taut, propulsive, beautifully done' – Susan Stokes-Chapman

THE DAZZLING SECOND GHOST STORY COLLECTION FROM THE CREATORS OF THE HAUNTING SEASON, NOW AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK.'Terrific - every bit as good as an MR James collection' ROSIE ANDREWS, author of THE LEVIATHANFeaturing new and original stories from:Bridget Collins Imogen Hermes Gowar Kiran Millwood Hargrave Andrew Michael Hurley Jess Kidd Natasha PulleyElizabeth Macneal Laura Purcell Susan Stokes-Chapman Laura Shepherd-Robinson Stuart Turton Catriona Ward The tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. These twelve stories - authored by some of today's most loved and lauded writers of historical and gothic fiction - are all centred around Christmas or Advent, boldly and playfully re-imagining a beloved tradition for a modern audience. Taking you from a haunted Tuscan villa to a remote Scottish island with a dark secret,, these vibrant haunted stories are your ultimate companion for frosty nights.So curl up, light a candle, and fall under the spell of winters past . . .

A cat-and-mouse thriller set in Victorian London, The Burial Plot is the third novel from Sunday Times bestseller Elizabeth Macneal, about murder, manipulation, and a young woman wrestling power from the hands of a dangerous man.

'I genuinely could not put this down' – Stacey Halls, author of Mrs England'A tour de force of a gothic thriller. I devoured it' – Gillian McAllister, author of Wrong Place, Wrong TimeThe Burial Plot is a spellbinding historical Gothic thriller about murder and manipulation, set in Victorian London. From Elizabeth Macneal, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Doll Factory.London, 1839. With the cemeteries full and money to be made in death, tricksters Crawford and Bonnie survive on wicked schemes and ill-gotten coin. But one blistering evening, their fortunes flip. A man lies in a pool of blood at Bonnie’s feet and now she needs to disappear.Crawford secures her a position as lady’s maid in a grand house on the Thames. As Bonnie comes to understand the family – the eccentric Mr Moncrieff, obsessively drawing mausoleums for his dead wife, and their peculiar daughter Cissie, scribbling imaginary love letters to herself – she begins to question what secrets are lying behind the house’s paper-thin walls and whether her own presence here was planned from the beginning.Because Crawford is watching, and perhaps he is plotting his greatest trick yet . . .'Taut, propulsive, beautifully done' – Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora'Ingenious' - The Sunday Times

FROM THE CREATORS OF THE HAUNTING SEASON COMES A DAZZLING COLLECTION OF NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN GHOSTLY TALES. 'Terrific - every bit as good as an MR James collection' ROSIE ANDREWS, author of THE LEVIATHANFeaturing new and original stories from:Bridget Collins, author of The BindingImogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs HancockKiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The MerciesAndrew Michael Hurley, author of The LoneyJess Kidd, author of Things in JarsNatasha Pulley, author of The Watchmaker of Filigree StreetElizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll FactoryLaura Purcell, author of The Silent CompanionsSusan Stokes-Chapman, author of PandoraLaura Shepherd-Robinson, author of The Square of SevensStuart Turton, author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle Catriona Ward, author of The Last House on Needless StreetThe tradition of a haunted tale at Christmas has flourished across the centuries. These twelve stories - authored by some of today's most loved and lauded writers of historical and gothic fiction - are all centred around Christmas or Advent, boldly and playfully re-imagining a beloved tradition for a modern audience. Taking you from a haunted Tuscan villa to a remote Scottish island with a dark secret,, these vibrant haunted stories are your ultimate companion for frosty nights. So curl up, light a candle, and fall under the spell of winters past . . . 'I absolutely devoured The Winter Spirits. Every story is a gem' LAURA SHEPPERSON'Another dazzling collection. Chilling, moving and incredibly satisfying' AMANDA MASON'Eerily macabre, hauntingly propulsive' JOANNE BURN

From the #1 internationally bestselling author of the "lush, evocative Gothic" (The New York Times Book Review) The Doll Factory comes an atmospheric and spectacular novel about a woman transformed by the arrival of a Victorian circus of wonders--"as moving as it is deeply entertaining" (Daniel Mason, New York Times bestselling author).Step up, step up In 1860s England, circus mania is sweeping the nation. Crowds jostle for a glimpse of the lion-tamers, the dazzling trapeze artists and, most thrilling of all, the so-called "human wonders." When Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders pitches its tent in a poor coastal town, the life of one young girl changes forever. Sold to the ringmaster as a "leopard girl" because of the birthmarks that cover her body, Nell is utterly devastated. But as she grows close to the other performers, she finds herself enchanted by the glittering freedom of the circus, and by her own role as the Queen of the Moon and Stars. Before long, Nell's fame spreads across the world--and with it, a chance for Jasper Jupiter to grow his own name and fortune. But what happens when her fame begins to eclipse his own, when even Jasper's loyal brother Toby becomes captivated by Nell? No longer the quiet flower-picker, Nell knows her own place in the world, and she will fight for it. Circus of Wonders is a beautiful story about the "complex dance between exploitation and empowerment, and the question of what it really means to have control over your own life" (Naomi Ishiguro, author of Escape Routes).

The spellbinding novel from Elizabeth Macneal, author of the Sunday Times bestselling The Doll Factory.

The Sunday Times bestseller from the bestselling author of The Doll Factory, Elizabeth Macneal.Set in a spectacular circus in the pleasure gardens of Victorian London, Circus of Wonders is an addictive novel about power, fame, and a love that is threatened by a terrible secret.'Glitters and gleams . . . utterly beguiling' – Daily Mail1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell lives set apart by her community because of the birthmarks that speckle her skin.But when Jasper Jupiter’s Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell is kidnapped. Her father has sold her, promising Jasper Jupiter his very own leopard girl. It is the greatest betrayal of Nell's life, but as her fame grows, and she finds friendship with the other performers and Jasper’s gentle brother Toby, she begins to wonder if joining the show is the best thing that has ever happened to her.In London, newspapers describe Nell as the eighth wonder of the world. Figurines are cast in her image, and crowds rush to watch her soar through the air. But what happens when her fame eclipses Jasper's own? And as she falls in love with Toby, can he detach himself from his past and the terrible secret that binds him to his brother?

The #1 international bestseller and The New York Times Editor's Choice "As lush as the novels of Kate Morton and Diane Setterfield, as exciting as The Alienist and Iain Pears' An Instance of the Fingerpost, this exquisite literary thriller will intrigue book clubs and rivet fans of historical fiction." --A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window "A lush, evocative Gothic." --The New York Times Book Review "This terrifically exciting novel will jolt, thrill, and bewitch readers." --Booklist, starred review Obsession is an art. In this "sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art, and obsession" (Paula Hawkins, bestselling author of The Girl on the Train), a beautiful young woman aspires to be an artist, while a man's dark obsession may destroy her world forever. Obsession is an art. In 1850s London, the Great Exhibition is being erected in Hyde Park and, among the crowd watching the dazzling spectacle, two people meet by happenstance. For Iris, an arrestingly attractive aspiring artist, it is a brief and forgettable moment. But for Silas, a curiosity collector enchanted by all things strange and beautiful, the meeting marks a new beginning. When Iris is asked to model for Pre-Raphaelite artist Louis Frost, she agrees on the condition that he will also teach her to paint. Suddenly, her world begins to expand beyond her wildest dreams--but she has no idea that evil is waiting in the shadows. Silas has only thought of one thing since that chance meeting, and his obsession is darkening by the day. "A lush, evocative Gothic" (The New York Times Book Review) that is "a perfect blend of froth and substance" (The Washington Post), The Doll Factory will haunt you long after you finish it and is perfect for fans of The Alienist, Drood, and Fingersmith.

The Doll Factory, the gripping Sunday Times bestseller, is a gothic tale of art, obsession and delusion that will transport you to the dark underbelly of Victorian London.London. 1850. The chance meeting between Iris Whittle, a dollmaker yearning for freedom, and Louis Frost, an artist desperate for a muse, sparks a tantalising bargain: Iris will model for Louis, in return for painting lessons. As Iris steps into a world of creativity and love, little does she realise that another man, curiosity collector Silas Reed, has become utterly enchanted by her . . .Blissfully unaware of Silas's growing obsession, Iris embraces her new life. But it is only a matter of time before their fates intertwine, setting them on a thrilling and suspenseful collision course.‘A sharp, scary tale of love, art and obsession’ – Paula Hawkins, author of The Girl on the TrainBBC Radio 2 Book Club PickBBC Radio 4 Book At BedtimeReader Praise:'Breathtaking''I couldn't put it down''Spellbinding''I never wanted it to end''A plot to stop your heart'Now a major TV series with Paramount+. Step into The Doll Factory, where beauty, horror and desire collide.

En spännande och förtrollande roman om kärlek, frigörelse, konst och besatthet. London, 1850. Iris jobbar tillsammans med sin syster i en leksaksaffär, där de syr dockor tills fingrarna blöder för att försörja sin familj. Men Iris drömmer om ett annat liv. Så när hon blir erbjuden att stå modell för den prerafaelitiska konstnären Louis Frost, trotsar hon sin familj och tar chansen. När stadens invånare flockas för att se bygget av den första världsutställningen möter hon av en slump Silas, djuruppstopparen som längtar efter erkännande och ära. Iris glömmer det snabbt, men för Silas blir mötet början på något nytt – en fantasi som snart övergår till besatthet …

&i>The Doll Factory&/i> is the intoxicating story of a young woman who aspires to be an artist, and the man whose obsession may destroy her world for ever.