Hiding From the Light: a spellbinding tudor historical timeslip fiction story of witches, secrets and revenge...

by Barbara Erskine (Author)

• Used

  Hardcover
  2002

  $4.12

  The big new novel by the bestselling author of WHISPERS IN THE SAND is a gripping tale of witchcraft and romance, past and present, as her modern-day characters are caught up in a battle that has been raging for hundreds of years. Emma Dickson has a successful City career and a flourishing relationship. So why does the advertisement for sale of Liza's Cottage, a house she remembers from childhood holidays on the rural Essex coast, turn her well-ordered life upside down with longing? Mike Sinclair is the new rector of Manningtree and Mistley, the tightly knit community where Liza's Cottage is situated. He is fascinated by the history of the parish, especially the seventeenth century, when Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins conducted his terrible work. It is his ghost that haunts the old shop in the high street, they say - or perhaps the spirits of his victims. Emma pins her dreams on her move to Mistley. But, once there, she is haunted by nightmares, dreams of the past, of the cottage's original owner at the time of the witch-hunt. The home she wanted so desperately now seems menacing. Mike is worried by the increasing level of supernatural disturbance in his parish. What has led to the growing sense of unease and violence that has the town in its grip? He starts to investigate but realises with horror that he himself feels the influence of whatever evil is stalking the town...As the ancient feast of Halloween approaches, the escalating sense of menace threatens to explode into terrifying violence. Only a handful of people glimpse what is really going on. Can they work out how to defeat the evil before it destroys them all?

• Used

  Paperback
  2002

  $3.19

  The big new novel by the bestselling author of WHISPERS IN THE SAND Emma imagined she was happy -- with her successful career in the City and her imminent engagement to her boyfriend, Piers, her future seemed mapped out. So why does the advertisement of Liza's Cottage for sale -- a house she remembers from childhood country holidays -- turn her well-ordered life upside down with longing? Mike Sinclair is the new rector of Manningtree and Mistley, a stranger in the tightly knit community on the rural Essex coast. Already he is fascinated by the history of the parish, but especially by the seventeenth century, when Chief Witchfinder Matthew Hopkins conducted his terrible work. It is the ghost of Hopkins that haunts the old shop in the high street, they say -- or the spirits of some of his victims who were tortured in the room upstairs. But now a television crew are filming there and, Mike wonders, if they are responsible for the increasing level of supernatural disturbance and the developing sense of unease in the parish? But as he starts to investigate, he realizes with horror that something or someone unpleasant is drawing him irresistibly into its possession. When Emma gives up her London life -- and Piers -- and moves into Liza's Cottage in Mistley, she is quickly enveloped by the gathering cloud of evil. Why do horrible dreams of the past -- about old Liza and a young widow, Sarah -- haunt her? Why is Emma being spied on by Lyndsey, a drop-out student who resents her presence, and whom everyone says is a practising witch? And why does Emma feel so threatened by the friendly and attractive rector?As the ancient feast of Halloween approaches, the escalating sense of menace in the community threatens to explode into bigotry, hatred and violence.Only a tiny handful of people glimpse what is really going on behind it all.Can they work out how to defeat the evil before it destroys everything worth having?

• New

  Paperback
  2009

  $12.33

  From the three million copy bestselling author of Lady of Hay comes the big new novel by the bestselling author of WHISPERS IN THE SAND is a gripping tale of witchcraft and romance, past and present, as her modern-day characters are caught up in a battle that has been raging for hundreds of years. The parish of Manningtree and Mistley has a dark history. In 1644, Cromwell's Witchfinder General tortured scores of women there, including Liza the herbalist, whose cottage still stands. Some say the spirits of his victims still haunt the old shop on the High Street...Emma Dickson gave up her high-flying career to live in Liza's cottage, but as Halloween approaches, visions of a terrible past are driving her to madness. In despair, Emma turns to the local rector for help, but he, too, is in the grip of something inexplicably dangerous...