The Language of Birds: the novel inspired by the Lord Lucan affair

The Language of Birds: the novel inspired by the Lord Lucan affair

by JillDawson (Author)

Synopsis

Drawing on the infamous Lord Lucan affair, this compelling novel explores the roots of a shocking murder from a fresh perspective and brings to vivid life an era when women's voices all too often went unheard.

In the summer of 1974, Mandy River arrives in London to make a fresh start and begins working as nanny to the children of one Lady Morven. She quickly finds herself in the midst of a bitter custody battle and the house under siege: Lord Morven is having his wife watched. According to Lady Morven, her estranged husband also has a violent streak, yet she doesn't seem the most reliable witness. Should Mandy believe her?

As Mandy tries to shield her young charges from harm, her friend Rosemary watches from the wings - an odd girl with her own painful past and a rare gift. This time, though, she misreads the signs.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 272
Publisher: Sceptre
Published: 04 Apr 2019

ISBN 10: 1473654521
ISBN 13: 9781473654525

Media Reviews
PRAISE FOR THE CRIME WRITER: Fantastically moody and appealingly unhinged . . . [it] achieves a wonderful blurring of the lines between fact and fantasy. * Sarah Waters, Summer Reads, Guardian *
A witty, creepy plot as well as a convincing character sketch of a woman all too easy to caricature * Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph *
Beautifully written and elegant * Jessica Mann, Literary Review *
[An] impeccable portrait . . . a hugely compelling read, jam-packed full of tensions and psychological insight, all beautifully observed. * Eithne Ferry, Sunday Express *
Dawson skilfully constructs a dark tale that Highsmith fans will love * Nick Rennison, Sunday Times *
Brilliant * Paula Hawkins, author of THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN *
Utterly riveting * Daily Mail *
Fascinating * Spectator *
Author Bio

Jill Dawson is the author of the novels Trick of the Light, Magpie, Fred and Edie, which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and the Whitbread Novel of the Year Award, Wild Boy, Watch Me Disappear, which was longlisted for the Orange Prize, The Great Lover, Lucky Bunny, The Tell-Tale Heart and The Crime Writer, which won the East Anglian Book of the Year. An award-winning poet, she has also edited several poetry and short story anthologies.
Jill Dawson has held many Fellowships, including the Creative Writing Fellowship at the University of East Anglia. In 2008 she founded a mentoring scheme for new writers, Gold Dust. She lives in the Cambridgeshire Fens.
www.jilldawson.co.uk