THE BEHOLDERS

Held me completely in its thrall until the very last line SUSAN STOKES CHAPMAN I was hooked from the start DAILY MAIL A SUNDAY TIMES HISTORICAL FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH A TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN PRIZE June 1878 The body of a boy is pulled from the depths of the River Thames suspected to be the beloved missing child of the widely admired Liberal MP Ralph Gethin Four months earlier Harriet is a young maid newly employed at Finton Hall Fleeing the drudgery of an unwanted engagement in the small village where she grew up Harriet is entranced by the grand country hall she is entranced too by her glamorous mistress Clara Gethin whose unearthly singing voice floats through the house But Clara though captivating is erratic The master of the house is a much lauded politician but he is strangely absent And some of their beautiful belongings seem to tell terrible stories Unable to ignore her growing unease Harriet sets out to discover their secrets When she uncovers a shocking truth a chain of events is set in motion that could cost Harriet everything even her freedom What readers are saying I didn t want to stop reading This story has everything murder love intrigue and heartbreak