This debut—from indie press, Arachne Books—is a page-turning gothic mystery and contemporary coming-of-age story rolled into one.
“A spell-binding slice of Cornish Gothic” Piers Torday
“Gripping, atmospheric, moving and with the glow of myth and fantasy intertwined with sharp depictions of family life.” Adele Geras
“Zed moves from London to Cornwall with her family. Her dad is convinced that a fresh start and a simpler lifestyle will improve their mother’s mental health and stop her sister Amy going off the rails, but Zed is riddled with anxiety about starting a new school and really misses the friends she’s left behind, particularly her best friend for whom she has quite confusing feelings.
Their new home is very isolated and the few neighbours they do have, won’t go near the boathouse down on the river. Then one night during a storm, Zed is attacked by a flock of cormorants and soon after things start to go very wrong for her family and the local community. She begins to piece together a local story of love, loss and revenge but can she find a way to appease her tormentors? And in the process face her biggest fears?”
Author summary of book, given in an interview for An Awfully Big Blog Adventure.