Instruments of Darkness

Instruments of Darkness

by ImogenRobertson (Author)

Synopsis

Daphne du Maurier meets CSI in this exhilarating debut Thornleigh Hall, seat of the Earl of Sussex, dominates its surroundings. Its heir is missing, and the once vigorous family is reduced to a cripple, his whore and his alcoholic second son, but its power endures. Impulsive Harriet Westerman has felt the Hall's menace long before she happens upon a dead man bearing the Thornleigh arms. The grim discovery cries out for justice, and she persuades reclusive anatomist Gabriel Crowther to her cause, much against his better judgement; he knows a dark path lies before those who stray from society's expectations. That same day, Alexander Adams is killed in a London music shop, leaving his young children orphaned. His death will lead back to Sussex, and an explosive secret that has already destroyed one family and threatens many others.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 384
Edition: First Edition
Publisher: Headline Review
Published: 14 May 2009

ISBN 10: 0755348397
ISBN 13: 9780755348398
Book Overview: Sold to Pamela Dorman Books/Viking US in an exciting six-figure two-book deal

Media Reviews
'[An] extremely impressive debut...a story, told by Robertson with great panache, of jealousy, greed and unkindness among the upper classes. She has a light touch and, best of all, does not burden the reader with a surfeit of dry research' * The Times *
'An irresistible debut - stylish, enigmatic and wonderfully atmospheric. Imogen Robertson's murder mystery evokes the squalor and grandeur of Georgian England, from dingy Soho rooms to sinister Sussex mansions, so vividly and compellingly that I half-wondered if this was really fiction or hidden history. It's a story of secrecy and shame, reason and passion, that resonates long after you reach the final page' * Francis Wheen *
'Poetic, enchanting, and chillingly memorable. Imogen Robertson is an exquisite writer, and this is an extraordinary thriller' * Tess Gerritsen *
'Wit and energy make it an enjoyable read' * Literary Review *
'Makes you want to read every word...the plot is serpentine and satisfying, with enough false trails and distractions to create a genuine mystery' * Telegraph *
'The doings of her characters may be darker than pitch but my lady's craftsmanship is beyond doubt' * Time Out *
'A well-written and multilayered story, which kept me engaged from the first to the last page' * Historical Novels Review *
Author Bio
Imogen Robertson is a TV, film and radio director. She grew up in Darlington, then studied Russian and German at Cambridge University, and now lives in London. She worked for a children`s production company for eight years before becoming a freelance director. She directs the hit Cbeebies show Numberjacks for TV and radio, and won an RTS award in 2006 for one of her episodes. She has also worked on short documentaries for Teachers` TV and continuity pieces for Cbeebies. Instruments of Darkness is her first novel.