On a bright afternoon in northern England, a young teenager named Jane
is babysitting Lily, the daughter of a local botanist. William, Lily's
father, is up ahead, exploring plants that Edmund, an enthusiast from
1877, brought back from his travels around the world. Jane looks down at
the sunshine around her feet for just a fleeting moment, but when she
looks up, little Lily has disappeared! Jane carries this burden with her
as she grows into adulthood.
Now in her 30s, Jane works at a local museum, and finds herself drawn
into researching the property where Lily disappeared. Apparently, back
in the 1870s, a young woman recorded only as N disappeared in the same
area, after leaving the local lunatic asylum with two men. But who was
N? And what could have become of her? Jane presses on, hoping to figure
out the mystery, to help herself find some peace. Tying the two
centuries together are the spirits of people who lived in the 1870s, who
bring a mystique of their own. You see, they are rather unsure
themselves of who they once were in life, and of why they are still
hanging around in the earthly realm.
Aislinn Hunter has created an unusual story that will draw you in and
envelop you with its characters. Readers will eagerly follow Jane's
footsteps, just as the spirits tied to her do, hoping to solve the
enigmas of both the past and the present. This was a fascinating and
no-holds-barred look at human nature.
This novel was published in March, 2015 from Hogarth and Penguin Random
House. Hardcover edition, e-book, and audio book available. Suggested
retail price for the hardcover edition is $26.00. ISBN 978-0-553-41852.
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