The Bone Diver - by Angie Spoto (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A young Scottish woman goes to work for a mysterious family in this folklore-inspired gothic fantasy by the author of The Grief Nurse. Perfect for fans of Jenni Fagan, Sarah Waters, and Sarah Perry.

"Steeped in fairytale and legend, The Bone Diver is an eerily beautiful reimagining of the myth of the selkie. I was swept away on these deep gothic currents." --Kate Girffin, author of Fyneshade

Keir Sealgair has always felt like a burden. The only daughter in a family of seal hunters, she can do almost everything her father can do--except kill. With her father in poor health and their daily catches dwindling, her family's livelihood and future are in danger, and Keir is desperate for a way to help.

High atop neighboring cliffs overlooking the sea sits Erskine Manor. Servants frequently come to the village to buy supplies, but no one's seen the aristocratic residents in years. Rumor has it that the lord of the house is dead, the children aren't human, and spine-toothed monsters roam the forests of the estate. Of course, that's all just gossip.

Then one day, Lady Erskine makes an unprecedented appearance in the village, and Keir finds herself with an offer that could save her family. Accepting it means moving into Erskine Manor--and witnessing whatever strange horrors it contains, and learning the shocking truth...

"[A] highly effective slice of folklore-inspired fantasy." --The Herald (UK)

"A captivating, powerful tale of family ties made monstrous and tangled. This is folklore and love carved into something dangerous, brilliant, and new." --Lorraine Wilson

"Dark, dreamy, and deliciously atmospheric. . . . Like all the best folktales do, The Bone Diver drew me in and would not let me go." --C.E. McGill

About the Author

Angie Spoto is an American fiction writer and poet living in Edinburgh. In 2020, she completed a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow. Her doctoral thesis was a fantasy novel, The Grief Nurse, and a collection of essays on grief, madness, and language. The Grief Nurse has been shortlisted for the First Novel Prize 2021 and The Bridge Awards Emerging Writer Award in 2020. Angie's second novel, The Bone Diver, was published in 2024.