The Animals at Lockwood Manor

A ghostly, gothic love story that opens as the animals of the natural history museum are evacuated to a sinister country house during the war - perfect for fans of Sarah Waters, Stacey Hall, and Jessie Burton.

Deeply gripping and darkly atmospheric, The Animals at Lockwood Manor is a tale of long-buried secrets and hidden desires by Jane Healey. Winner of the HWA Debut Crown Award 2020 Some secrets are unspoken. Others are unspeakable . . . August 1939. As the Second World War looms, thirty-year-old Hetty Cartwright is tasked with the evacuation and safekeeping of the natural history museum''s famous collection of mammals. But once she and her exhibits arrive at Lockwood Manor, Hetty soon realizes that she''s taken on more than she''d bargained for . . . Protecting her priceless animals from the irascible Lord Lockwood and resentful servants is hard enough, but when a series of mysterious events occur, Hetty begins to suspect someone - or something - is stalking her through the darkened corridors of the gothic mansion. As her fears build, Hetty finds herself falling under the spell of Lucy, Lord Lockwood''s beautiful but haunted daughter. But why is Lucy so traumatized? Does she know something she''s not telling? And is there any truth to local rumours of ghosts and curses? ''Atmospheric and disquieting . . . an ideal book club read'' - A J Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird

In this modern gothic, animals disappear, chilling screams pierce the night, and tales of abuse and madness abound. An appropriately horrific conclusion is worthy of the genre's best storytellers

Autorentext

Jane Healey studied English Literature at Warwick University. She has been shortlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize 2013, the Costa Short Story Award 2014, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2016 and the Penguin Random House WriteNow mentoring programme 2017. The Animals at Lockwood Manor is her first novel. She lives in Edinburgh.

Klappentext

August 1939. When the contents of London's museums and galleries are evacuated for safekeeping during the war, thirty-year-old Hetty Cartwright is put in charge of the natural history museum's mammal collection. Once she and her exhibits arrive at Lockwood Manor, however, where they will stay for the duration of the war, Hetty soon realizes that perhaps London would have been safer . . .

As some of the animals go missing - and worse - Hetty finds herself falling under the spell of Lucy, Lord Lockwood's beautiful but clearly haunted daughter. But why is Lucy so traumatized? Does she know something she's not telling? And is there any truth to local rumours of ghosts and curses?

'A rich story full of tension and darkness' AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs Bird

'This story will keep you captivated' Woman's Weekly

'An eerie puzzle box of a book' Erika Swyler

'A vivid, beautiful but haunting story, with a thread of darkness running through it . . . I was thoroughly engrossed' Cressida McLaughlin

'Will keep you emotionally invested to the end' Woman & Home