The exquisite new novel from bestselling author Louise Hare based in 18th century London

‘The sharp-witted, courageous heroine is the perfect narrator of the atmospheric, enthralling story that Hare has woven … a fantastic read’ Harriet Tyce, Sunday Times bestselling author

‘A beautifully drawn cast of characters and a heroine you care about from the very first page. I had to stop myself racing through it because I didn't want it to end’ Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest Man

****

December, 1765. In the early hours of the morning, Sukey Maynard flees her home – a brothel in Covent Garden. Her maidenhood is about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and she is too frightened to stay. But when she is captured and returned to the house of fallen sisters, she has a choice to make – should she stay, or should she run again?

As Sukey accepts her fate, she begins to learn how to navigate this strange new life of hers, and soon realises that there are those who wish her and her sisters harm. But this world that operates in the shadows has its own set of rules, and if Sukey is to survive then she must learn to play the game …

From the brothels of Covent Garden to the oppressive society of the eighteenth century, Louise Hare’s enthralling historical masterpiece paints a vivid picture of London’s underbelly and shows how, even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future.