The Goddess and the Thief

The Goddess and the Thief

by EssieFox (Author)

Synopsis

'A fabulous foray into a shadowy Victorian world' WOMAN&HOME

A beguiling novel of Victorian theft and obsession from the bestselling author of THE SOMNAMBULIST.

Uprooted from her home in India, Alice is raised by her aunt, a spiritualist medium in Windsor. When the mysterious Mr Tilsbury enters their lives, Alice is drawn into a plot to steal the priceless Koh-i-Noor diamond, claimed by the British Empire at the end of the Anglo-Sikh wars.

Said to be both blessed and cursed, the sacred Indian stone exerts its power over all who encounter it: a handsome deposed maharajah determined to claim his rightful throne, a man hell-bent on discovering the secrets of eternity, and a widowed queen who hopes the jewel can draw her husband's spirit back. In the midst of all this madness, Alice must discover a way to regain control of her life and fate...

'An obvious comparison is with early Sarah Waters' GUARDIAN

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Publisher: Orion
Published: 20 Nov 2014

ISBN 10: 1409146200
ISBN 13: 9781409146209
Book Overview: A beguiling and sensual Victorian novel of theft and obsession from the author of the TV Book Club pick THE SOMNAMBULIST.

Media Reviews
This is a fascinating, fast-paced, beautifully written book and well worth reading. -- Carol Westron * Promoting Crime Blog *
Fox's clear and thorough historical research is clearly woven into every seam of this rich and imaginative novel. -- Antonia Charlesworth * THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH *
The plot of this novel is intricate and beautifully turned, and echoes of Frances Hodgson Burnett and George MacDonald Fraser are entirely intentional - Fox's raids on the story-box cleverly enhance the sense of mystery * THE TIMES *
A richly textured, highly coloured and entirely pleasurable read * METRO *
Dark secrets, hidden pasts and childhood mysteries are the focus in this sensual melodrama...an entertaining slice of Victoriana, rich in historical detail * MARIE CLAIRE *
With just as many twists and turns as Wilkie Collins aat his unpredictable best, Fox's take on the Victorian mystery novel will transport you to a world of intrigue and superstition . . . A gem of a read * THE LADY *
The author captures the essence of Victorian life in this richly textured novel...hugely enjoyable. If you love all things Victorian, you will love this * HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY *
Beautifully turned and very beguiling . . . Fox cleverly weaves in real characters such as the widowed Queen Victoria and the Maharajah Duleep Singh, with Indian myths and legends, to produce a terrifically engrossing read * SAGA MAGAZINE *
Delights in the underworld and exotica of Victorian Britain...Memorable and unusual * SUNDAY TIMES *
A dark enthralling story... I was totally engrossed! * ESSENTIALS *
A shadowy sensual world... [a] beguiling, imaginative and original tale * HELLO! MAGAZINE *
Terrifically atmospheric and an engrossing plot. * NEW BOOKS *
This is a tale of lost families, haunting prophecies and obsessive love. Not one to miss! 8 out 10 stars * WORDS AND PIECES BLOG *
Author Bio
Essie Fox divides her time between Windsor and Bow in the East End of London. Her debut novel, The Somnambulist, was selected for the Channel 4 Book Club and was shortlisted in the New Writer of the Year category of the 2012 National Book Awards. She is the author of The Virtual Victorian: www.virtualvictorian.blogspot.com