The Beloved Girls: The new Richard & Judy Book Club Choice with an OMG twist in the tale

Description

'A gorgeous epic . . . Wholly absorbing. I adored it' MARIAN KEYES 'This sweeping, absorbing story is a treat' ADELE PARKS 'A compelling story of female friendship, dark secrets and family bonds that pulls you in and won't let go' ROSANNA LEY 'If you love atmospheric stories about old houses, families and secrets, this is for you' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 'A gorgeous story to get immersed in' Prima Two young girls. One hot, long, sultry summer. And a rambling old English manor house where nothing is as it seems . . . A successful London barrister, Catherine Christophe, goes missing the day before her wedding anniversary. The clue to her disappearance, it seems, lies buried thirty years in the past. Somerset, 1989. Janey Lestrange arrives to stay for the summer at the grand old house of the Hunter family. But something is wrong behind the beautiful fa ades of Vanes. Janey's childhood friend, Kitty Hunter, her brother and their eccentric parents - once so welcoming - do not seem to want her there. It is only as the night of an ancient and mysterious family ritual looms closer that Janey comes to realise they need her . . . Decades later, the tragic events of that unforgettable summer still cast the darkest shadow. Can the truth about what happened that night ever be brought into the light? 'Bewitching, beguiling and utterly beautiful, The Beloved Girls will pull you into their mysterious and enchanted world and never let you go. With a cast of compelling characters and a labyrinthine plot, it's a page-turner of the most luxurious kind - a real escape.' VERONICA HENRY Compelling, immersive and luxurious, THE BELOVED GIRLS is the outstanding new novel from the Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author of The Garden of Lost and Found and The Wildflowers

Harriet Evans has sold over a million copies of her books. She is the author of twelve bestselling novels, most recently the Richard and Judy Book Club selection, The Beloved Girls, the Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller The Garden of Lost and Found, which won Good Housekeeping's Book of the Year, and The Wildflowers. She used to work in publishing and now writes full time, when she is not being distracted by her children, other books, crafting projects, puzzles, gardening, and her much-loved collection of jumpsuits. She lives in Bath, Somerset.

PRAISE FOR THE BELOVED GIRLS: 'Wow, was this book stunning or what? It stole my heart and never gave it back. ' * Reader review * 'I'm still reeling from reading this book . . . Wow!' * Reader review * 'Wow! This book pulled me in from the beginning . . . A five star read' * Reader review * 'A compelling story of female friendship, dark secrets and family bonds that pulls you in and won't let go' * Rosanna Ley * 'This is the most gripping, atmospheric book, heavy with mystery and intriguing right till the end. I loved it' * Sophie Kinsella * 'A gorgeous epic . . . Wholly absorbing. I adored it!' * Marian Keyes * 'A rich and sweeping tale as dark and delicious as the hive's special honey' * Wendy Holden, Daily Mail * 'Bewitching, beguiling and utterly beautiful, The Beloved Girls will pull you into their mysterious and enchanted world and never let you go. With a cast of compelling characters and a labyrinthine plot, it's a page-turner of the most luxurious kind - a real escape' * Veronica Henry * 'This sweeping, absorbing story is a treat' * Adele Parks * 'A gorgeous, Gothic and gripping big-house mystery' * Red * 'Taut as a drumskin and thrumming with tension . . . You'll stay up well past your bedtime to finish this atmospheric read' * HEAT * 'A thumping good read . . . Completely absorbing' * Sam Baker, Noon * 'A compelling family drama' * Woman & Home * 'This immersive read is a real treat' * Bella * 'A compelling and atmospheric read' * The Sun * 'A gorgeous story to get immersed in' * Prima * 'Full of evocative description of time and place, the sense of "something about to happen" keeps you turning the pages' * Choice * 'An absorbing, sweeping drama to get lost in' * Sunday Express, S Mag * 'A compelling read . . . With a strong sense of place' * My Weekly * PRAISE FOR HARRIET EVANS: 'Comfort reading of the highest order' * India Knight * 'A sweeping novel you won't put down' * Katie Fforde * 'Richly layered . . . Unforgettable . . . This is a story to get truly lost in' * Isabelle Broom * 'She reels you in and then you're hooked, right to the last page' * Patricia Scanlan * 'Atmospheric and altogether wonderful' * Lesley Pearse * 'I love it on so many levels, the immense feeling of place, the slow, irresistible sense of being drawn deep into the family and its story, and the strange hovering of menace somewhere in the idyll. Wonderful' * Penny Vincenzi * 'Spellbinding' * Independent * 'Gripping' * Irish Times * 'Gorgeous' * Stylist * 'A poignant story of love and loss' * Daily Mail 'Must Reads' * 'I can't remember the last time I was so enthralled' * Red * 'Epic, absorbing ... Full of intrigue and emotion' * Fabulous * 'By turns painfully sad and heart-lifting, with characters that stay with you' * Good Housekeeping * 'Authentic and satisfying. An immersive mystery' * Woman & Home * 'A poignant tale' * Woman *