But Agnes and Pearl quickly discover that instead they may have opened the door to something that they can never put back. Creating atmosphere is her forte and all her books are pervaded by a creeping menace. I’m pleased to report that with The Shape of Darkness she has produced another entertaining tale steeped in wall-to-wall gothic spookiness. Desperately seeking an answer, Agnes approaches Pearl, a child spirit medium lodging in Bath with her older half-sister and her ailing father, hoping that if Pearl can make contact with those who died, they might reveal who killed them. I’ve read and enjoyed Laura Purcell’s previous three books: The Silent Companions, The Corset and Bone China. Still recovering from a serious illness herself, making enough money to support her elderly mother and her orphaned nephew Cedric has never been easy, but then one of her clients is murdered shortly after sitting for Agnes, and then another, and another.

Silhouette artist Agnes is struggling to keep her business afloat.

Edgar Award Finalist A struggling silhouette artist in Victorian Bath.

A struggling silhouette artist in Victorian Bath seeks out a renowned child spirit medium in order to speak to the dead - and to try and identify their killers - in this beguiling new tale from Laura Purcell. Read The Shape of Darkness A Novel by Laura Purcell available from Rakuten Kobo. 'Dripping with atmosphere with a corkscrew plot, Laura Purcell just gets better and better' STACEY HALLS 'It truly kept me guessing to the very last page' SONIA VELTON Wicked deeds require the cover of darkness.

The shape of darkness laura purcell