The Woman in the Lake - by Nicola Cornick (Paperback)

About the Book

"1765. Lady Isabella Gerard, a respectable member of Georgian society, orders her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it, its shimmering beauty tainted by the actions of her brutal husband the night before.Three months later, Lord Gerard stands at the shoreline of the lake, looking down at a woman wearing the golden gown. As the body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it's clear this was not his intended victim. 250 years later ... When a gown she stole from a historic home as a child is mysteriously returned to Fenella Brightwell, it begins to possess her in exactly the same way that it did as a girl. Soon the fragile new life Fen has created for herself away from her abusive ex-husband is threatened at its foundations by the gown's power over her until she can't tell what is real and what is imaginary. As Fen uncovers more about the gown and Isabella's story, she begins to see the parallels with her own life. When each piece of history is revealed, the gown--and its past--seems to possess her more and more, culminating in a dramatic revelation set to destroy her sanity"--

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of House of Shadows and The Phantom Tree comes a spellbinding tale of jealousy, greed, plotting and revenge--part history, part mystery--for fans of Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley and Barbara Erskine

London, 1765

Lady Isabella Gerard, a respectable member of Georgian society, orders her maid to take her new golden gown and destroy it, its shimmering beauty tainted by the actions of her brutal husband the night before.

Three months later, Lord Gerard stands at the shoreline of the lake, looking down at a woman wearing the golden gown. As the body slowly rolls over to reveal her face, it's clear this was not his intended victim...

250 Years Later...

When a gown she stole from a historic home as a child is mysteriously returned to Fenella Brightwell, it begins to possess her in exactly the same way that it did as a girl. Soon the fragile new life Fen has created for herself away from her abusive ex-husband is threatened at its foundations by the gown's power over her until she can't tell what is real and what is imaginary.

As Fen uncovers more about the gown and Isabella's story, she begins to see the parallels with her own life. When each piece of history is revealed, the gown--and its past--seems to possess her more and more, culminating in a dramatic revelation set to destroy her sanity.

Review Quotes

"There is much to enjoy in [this] sumptuous novel." -Sunday Mirror on THE PHANTOM TREE

"Filled with romance, drama, mystery and intrigue. Perfect for fans of Tracy Rees, Barbara Erskine, and Kate Riordan." -Historical Novel Society on THE PHANTOM TREE

"A brilliant time-slip novel with a great twist in the tail!" -Woman Magazine n THE PHANTOM TREE

"Atmospheric and elegant, House of Shadows casts a hypnotic spell.... [It] blends a supernaturally tinged historical drama à la Outlander with a cozy village mystery to addictive, mesmerizing effect." -BookPage

"For fans of Barbara Erskine and Kate Morton comes an unforgettable novel.... House of Shadows delivers all that it promises." -Heroes and Heartbreakers

"There's a beautiful and ethereal feel to the story, and I found myself with chill bumps reading late at night.... Delightfully atmospheric, House of Shadows is masterfully spun out, [and] deftly performed. Fans of Susanna Kearsley will enjoy this book." -Fresh Fiction

"Popular fiction author Cornick skillfully packages all these elements into an enjoyable read." -Booklist on HOUSE OF SHADOWS

"Fans of Kate Morton will enjoy this gripping tale." -Candis on HOUSE OF SHADOWS