A Penance for Crows - by Shannon Morgan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An unnerving, hypnotic, modern gothic thriller set on a remote Irish island, where an artist is caught between deadly secrets, ancient superstition, and echoing madness. For fans of Simone St. James, Eve Chase, and Jennifer McMahon. Off the southern tip of the Beara Peninsula lies Beanna Dubh, an island of savage beauty, its jagged cliffs lashed by Atlantic winds and infested by thousands of crows. Untouched by 21st-century advances, the islanders live under the strict rule of the church, while clinging to old superstitions of the crows as harbingers of disaster. To this desolate, unforgiving place Grizela Urquhart fled, seeking sanctuary from brutal bullying in her native Glasgow. 40 years on, Grizela still remains an outsider-the eccentric painter viewed with distrust and barely tolerated. The feelings are mutual, for she has discovered there are as many secrets on Beanna Dubh as there are crows. When she stumbles upon the body of a young priest with a diabolical symbol drawn on his chest, the crows darken the skies, and Grizela is plagued by demonic whispers only she can hear. The islanders' suspicions fall on her, but she fears the answers lie in her tortured past. As mass hysteria grows, Grizela scrambles to protect the innocent-a quartet of young girls she has taken under her wing. When she uncovers dark truths behind the girls' mysterious midnight gatherings, her grip on reality unravels and she is faced with an impossible choice: do the unthinkable to protect the girls as the whispers urge, or come out of hiding to face the sins of her past.

Review Quotes

Praise for Shannon Morgan

"A dark weaving of history, horror and timelines, Grimdark draws you into its depths and doesn't let go. Gothic, ghostly and enthralling." --Angela "A.G." Slatter, award-winning author of The Crimson Road on Grimdark

"Grimdark has everything gothic-lovers crave: a sprawling, coastal English manor haunted by its dark past, a spirited heroine determined to solve the mysteries within its walls, and a climactic ending that will set your pulse racing. Morgan has created something both classic and fresh, replete with lush atmosphere and laced with historical intrigue. It's all here--love, tragedy, family secrets, curses, and the power of breaking free from them. A brilliantly told tale." --Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of Parting the Veil

"Shannon Morgan's Grimdark is a unique and sweeping journey through time. At once mind-bending and gothic, tragic and hopeful, it's a beautifully crafted exploration of memory, longing, and what we must leave behind to move forward." --Chelsea Iversen, author of The Witches at the End of the World

"Taking a deep dive into how past experiences (and past lives) can shape our future, Morgan's Grimdark brims with atmospheric prose intended to haunt us, as we're pulled along the tide of self-reflection, self-awakening, and self-discovery. Through Cló, Grimdark explores the nuance of family trauma and the legacies that define us, delivering a stunning and harrowing work of Gothic wonder that's sure to keep you up at night." --Maria Tureaud, author of This House Will Feed

"Morgan's prose is atmospheric without being overly dense, and tropes of the classic gothic novel are juxtaposed with references to the 21st century to create a sense of anachronism. Overall, the novel provides a compelling supernatural mystery that will hold a reader's attention right up to the last page. Recommend to fans of Kate Morton and Eve Chase." --Library Journal on Her Little Flowers

"Fans of ghost stories and gothic settings will love Shannon Morgan's newest novel... a captivating mix of dark family tragedy, haunting atmosphere, and very lively ghosts." --Kelsey James, author of The Woman in the Castello on In the Lonely Hours

"What an amazing story Shannon Morgan has delivered! With a gothic twist, a beautifully haunting atmosphere, and a big splash of family drama, this makes an incredible read for modern ghost story lovers!" --Shanora Williams, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Before on Her Little Flowers
"Poetic prose and haunting heartbreak--a story that will stay with the reader!" --Lisa Childs, New York Times bestselling author of The Missing on Her Little Flowers

"In Shannon Morgan's supernatural novel, a mother's love is expressed through the language of flowers." --Foreword Reviews on Her Little Flowers

"Look for Gothic atmosphere and pleasantly creepy vibes in Shannon Morgan's story of a middle-aged woman and her extremely haunted mansion." --GoodReads, Most Anticipated Books of the Summer on Her Little Flowers

About the Author

Shannon Morgan is the author of atmospheric modern gothic novels, including In the Lonely Hours and the Goodreads Choice Award-finalist Her Little Flowers. She has had a nomadic past, involving, but not limited to, nearly being shot in Kashmir, playing a marathon ten-hour game of backgammon on the side of a road in Turkey, getting horribly sea-sick off the coast of Madagascar and milking a camel in the Sahara Desert. She now lives with her husband and sons in Wiltshire, England, and can be found online at shannonmorganauthor.com or on Twitter as @morgan_shan.