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Kate Mosse was our Guest Editor in November 2012 - click here - to see the books that inspired her writing.
Kate Mosse is the author of three non-fiction books, three plays and six novels, including her multi-million selling international No 1 bestselling Languedoc Trilogy. Translated into 38 languages and published in 40 countries, the first of the series, Labyrinth, was the bestselling book in the UK in 2006, named as one of Waterstone's best novels of the past twenty five years and was made into a feature film for Channel 4 television by Ridley Scott staring John Hurt, Jessica Brown-Findlay and Tom Felton. The second in the series - the fin-de-si?cle Tarot tale, Sepulchre - and her stand alone novella, The Winter Ghosts - were also No 1 bestsellers. The third and final bestselling novel in the Trilogy, Citadel was published to outstanding reviews in October 2012 and shortlisted for the Specsavers Most Popular Novel of the Year award. Set during World War II in Carcassonne, it tells the story of courage and bravery under Occupation based around an all-female group of Resistance fighters.
In October 2013 Kate's first ever collection of stories The Mistletoe Bride & Other Winter Tales was be published. Her short fiction and essays have previously appeared in a range of magazines and books including Midsummer Nights (Quercus), The Book Lovers' Appreciation Society (Orion) and Fifty Shades of Feminism (Virago). She has also written introductions to new editions of classic novels - including Captain Blood by Raphael Sabbatini, Night Falls on the City by Sarah Gainham and Goldfinger by Ian Fleming. Other recent publications play Endpapers (Oberon Books), commissioned by the Bush Theatre for 'Sixty-Six Books', and Chichester Festival Theatre at Fifty in 2012 (Unbound).
Known as a campaigner for libraries and for promoting international writing by women, Kate is the Co-Founder & Honorary Director of the Women's Prize for Fiction - previously the Orange Prize for Fiction - and has advised prizes and festivals throughout the world in this field. In 2012, Kate was named by the Bookseller as one of the fifty most influential people in British publishing, and was presented with the 'Spirit of Everywoman Award' for her contribution to women and the arts in November.
Kate also on the board of the National Theatre in London and is Patron of The Fishbourne Centre and of the Consort of Twelve in Sussex, where she lives. Kate was awarded an OBE in June 2013.
Author photo © Roderick Field
* The Sunday Times Number One Bestseller * From the multi-million, number one bestselling author of Labyrinth and The Taxidermist's Daughter, comes The Burning Chambers: a gripping story of love and betrayal, mysteries and secrets, conspiracies and divided loyalties . . . Carcassonne 1562. Nineteen-year-old Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter at her father's bookshop. Sealed with a distinctive family crest, it contains just five words: SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE. But before Minou can decipher the mysterious message, a chance encounter with a young Huguenot convert, Piet Reydon, changes her destiny forever. For Piet has a dangerous mission of his own, and he will need Minou's help if he is to get out of La Cite alive . . . A thrilling adventure, and a heart-breaking love story, The Burning Chambers is a historical novel of excitement, conspiracy and danger like no other . . .
The enthralling new Sunday Times bestselling gothic novel from the author of THE WINTER GHOSTS, CITADEL and LABYRINTH. The clock strikes twelve. Beneath the wind and the remorseless tolling of the bell, no one can hear the scream ...1912. A Sussex churchyard. Villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will not survive the coming year are thought to walk. And in the shadows, a woman lies dead. As the flood waters rise, Connie Gifford is marooned in a decaying house with her increasingly tormented father. He drinks to escape the past, but an accident has robbed her of her most significant childhood memories. Until the disturbance at the church awakens fragments of those vanished years ...
I was privileged to visit Kate in her Carcassonne retreat and be shown the numerous locations she used throughout this novel; the exact tower, steps, house, street etc that feature in the action in this exciting tale. It’s a time-slip adventure, a grail-tale, a history lesson, and a thumping good read that effortlessly links medieval France with the present through two strong heroines. I loved it. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
Winner of the Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year at the British Book Awards 2006. I was privileged to visit Kate in her Carcassonne retreat and be shown the numerous locations she used throughout this novel; the exact tower, steps, house, street etc that feature in the action in this exciting tale. It’s a time-slip adventure, a grail-tale, a history lesson, and a thumping good read that effortlessly links medieval France with the present through two strong heroines. I loved it. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Labyrinth a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'The spellbinding “Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse is one of the books that got me hooked on historical fiction...' - Claudia Stach. Scroll down to read more reviews. A brand new two-part adaptation of Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth starring John Hurt and Jessica Brown Findlay was shown over Easter weekend 2013. Click on the screen below to view the trailer. The Languedoc series. 1. Labyrinth 2. Sepulchre 3. Citadel Comparison: Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon.
The clock strikes twelve. Beneath the wind and the remorseless tolling of the bell, no one can hear the scream ...1912. A Sussex churchyard. Villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will not survive the coming year are thought to walk. And in the shadows, a woman lies dead. As the flood waters rise, Connie Gifford is marooned in a decaying house with her increasingly tormented father. He drinks to escape the past, but an accident has robbed her of her most significant childhood memories. Until the disturbance at the church awakens fragments of those vanished years ...
A beautiful collection of short stories from the author of Labyrinth. These simple, perfectly crafted tales are a selection of ghost stories and tales inspired from English and French folklore. They are haunting but not all in a shivers-down-the-spine kind of way, some simply because you know when you finish reading them they will stay with you for a long, long time.
Because the word ‘ghosts’ appears in the title we know what they are when they turn up but our protagonist doesn’t. How he comes to realise this and cope with it is cleverly done in a creepy tale of persecution, war, loss and love very reminiscent of Susan Hill’s creepy tales. It’s short and atmospheric, a one-sitting read, highly recommended. Comparison: Susan Hill, Alexandra Sololoff, Jennifer Egan.
Sussex, 1912. In a churchyard, villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will die in the coming year are thought to be seen. Here, where the estuary leads out to the sea, superstitions still hold sway. Standing alone is the taxidermist's daughter. At 17, Constantia Gifford lives with her father in a decaying house: it is all that is left of Gifford's once world-famous museum of taxidermy. The stuffed animals that used to grace every parlour are out of fashion, leaving Gifford a disgraced and bitter man. The bell begins to toll and all eyes are fixed on the church. No one sees the gloved hand pick up a flint. As the last notes fade into the dark, a woman lies dead. While the village braces itself against rising waters and the highest tide of the season, Connie struggles to discover who is responsible, but finds herself under suspicion. Is Constantia who she seems - is she the victim of circumstances or are more sinister forces at work? And what is the secret that lies at the heart of Gifford House, hidden among the bell jars of her father's workshop? Told over one summer, THE TAXIDERMIST'S DAUGHTER is the haunting new novel from the bestselling author of LABYRINTH, SEPULCHRE, CIDADEL and THE WINTER GHOSTS.
July 2013 Book of the Month. Citadel, again set in South West France this time during WW2, is the thrilling conclusion to the Languedoc trilogy that began with Labyrinth and continued with Sepulchre. Kate Mosse writes such believable and compelling historical adventures that you can’t help but feel transported in time. Full of legends, incredible history and more hidden secrets of Carcassonne that ensure fans of the series will not be disappointed. Click here to see what our Reader Review Panel thought of Labyrinth. Shortlisted for the Specsavers National Book Awards 'Popular Fiction of the Year' 2012. The Languedoc series. 1. Labyrinth 2. Sepulchre 3. Citadel
An easy read of fourteen short stories and a one act play, all with a mystical theme which Kate Mosse is so good at portraying. Each is accompanied by an author’s note and although some have been published before, have not appeared together as a complete work. Set in Sussex, Brittany and the Languedoc, some are reworked folk legends, others original ghost tales and some reminiscent of the author’s novels. The title story tells of a young bride at her wedding feast who invites the younger guests to play hide and seek. She is never found, why and what happens is very sad.
Winner of the Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year at the British Book Awards 2006. I was privileged to visit Kate in her Carcassonne retreat and be shown the numerous locations she used throughout this novel; the exact tower, steps, house, street etc that feature in the action in this exciting tale. It’s a time-slip adventure, a grail-tale, a history lesson, and a thumping good read that effortlessly links medieval France with the present through two strong heroines. I loved it. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Labyrinth a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'The spellbinding “Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse is one of the books that got me hooked on historical fiction...' - Claudia Stach. Scroll down to read more reviews. A brand new two-part adaptation of Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth starring John Hurt and Jessica Brown Findlay was shown over Easter weekend 2013. Click on the screen below to view the trailer. The Languedoc series. 1. Labyrinth 2. Sepulchre 3. Citadel Comparison: Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon.
November 2012 Book of the Month. Shortlisted for the Specsavers National Book Awards 'Popular Fiction of the Year' 2012. Citadel, again set in South West France this time during WW2, is the thrilling conclusion to the Languedoc trilogy that began with Labyrinth and continued with Sepulchre. Kate Mosse writes such believable and compelling historical adventures that you can’t help but feel transported in time. Full of legends, incredible history and more hidden secrets of Carcassonne that ensure fans of the series will not be disappointed. The Languedoc series. 1. Labyrinth 2. Sepulchre 3. Citadel Comparison: Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon.
A Special Edition of Labyrinth by Kate Mosse to celebrate Orion's 20th anniversary. Winner of the Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year at the British Book Awards 2006. I was privileged to visit Kate in her Carcassonne retreat and be shown the numerous locations she used throughout this novel; the exact tower, steps, house, street etc that feature in the action in this exciting tale. It’s a time-slip adventure, a grail-tale, a history lesson, and a thumping good read that effortlessly links medieval France with the present through two strong heroines. I loved it. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Labyrinth a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'The spellbinding “Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse is one of the books that got me hooked on historical fiction...' - Claudia Stach. Scroll down to read more reviews. A brand new two-part adaptation of Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth starring John Hurt and Jessica Brown Findlay was shown over Easter weekend 2013. Click on the screen below to view the trailer. The Languedoc series. 1. Labyrinth 2. Sepulchre 3. Citadel Comparison: Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon.
Because the word ‘ghosts’ appears in the title we know what they are when they turn up but our protagonist doesn’t. How he comes to realise this and cope with it is cleverly done in a creepy tale of persecution, war, loss and love very reminiscent of Susan Hill’s creepy tales. It’s short and atmospheric, a one-sitting read, highly recommended. Comparison: Susan Hill, Alexandra Sololoff, Jennifer Egan.
Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 5 November 2009. This is quite different from Mosse’s previous books Labyrinth and Sepulchre. It started out as a short story for the 2009 Quick Reads but the author felt she wanted to expand it and the result is a beautiful and haunting book, a story sensitively and movingly told.
As absorbing and fascinating as Mosse’s first novel Labyrinth, Sepulchre is rich in history, mystery, revenge and obsession. Again this is a time split novel following the story of two women separated by over a century but linked by a mysterious discovery. A really great read, thoroughly engrossing.To listen to music by Greg Nunnes, which was inspired by Sepulchre, click the 'Audio Extract' button. Watch out for Citadel, the latest in the Languedoc series, published on 25 Oct 2012. The Languedoc series. 1. Labyrinth 2. Sepulchre 3. Citadel Comparison: Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon. If you would like to read more books set in and around Paris, then go to the fabulous City-Lit Guide to Paris where you will find a plethora of titles featured.
As absorbing and fascinating as Mosse’s first novel Labyrinth, Sepulchre is rich in history, mystery, revenge and obsession. Again this is a time split novel following the story of two women separated by over a century but linked by a mysterious discovery. A really great read, thoroughly engrossing.To listen to music by Greg Nunnes, which was inspired by Sepulchre, click the 'Audio Extract' button. Watch out for Citadel, the latest in the Languedoc series, published on the 25 Oct 2012. The Languedoc series. 1. Labyrinth 2. Sepulchre 3. Citadel Comparison: Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon.
I was privileged to visit Kate in her Carcassonne retreat and be shown the numerous locations she used throughout this novel; the exact tower, steps, house, street etc that feature in the action in this exciting tale. It’s a time-slip adventure, a grail-tale, a history lesson, and a thumping good read that effortlessly links medieval France with the present through two strong heroines. I loved it. ~ Sarah Broadhurst
Winner of the Richard & Judy Best Read of the Year at the British Book Awards 2006. I was privileged to visit Kate in her Carcassonne retreat and be shown the numerous locations she used throughout this novel; the exact tower, steps, house, street etc that feature in the action in this exciting tale. It’s a time-slip adventure, a grail-tale, a history lesson, and a thumping good read that effortlessly links medieval France with the present through two strong heroines. I loved it. In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Labyrinth a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'The spellbinding “Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse is one of the books that got me hooked on historical fiction...' - Claudia Stach. Scroll down to read more reviews. A brand new two-part adaptation of Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth starring John Hurt and Jessica Brown Findlay was shown over Easter weekend 2013. Click on the screen below to view the trailer. The Languedoc series. 1. Labyrinth 2. Sepulchre 3. Citadel Comparison: Dan Brown, Diana Gabaldon.
16 modern fiction superstars shine a startling light on the romance and pain of the infamous literary pair Heathcliff and Cathy. Short stories to stir the heart and awaken vital conversation about love. Sixteen stories inspired by Wuthering Heights. In 'Terminus' a young woman hides in an empty Brighton hotel; in 'Thicker Than Blood' a man sits in a hot tub stalking his newly-married love on social media; and in 'A bird half-eaten' an amateur boxer prepares for a match. A woman recalls the 'Heathcliffs I Have Known' and the physical danger she has borne at their hands; in 'Anima' a child and a fox are unified in one startling moment of violence; and in 'One Letter Different' two teenagers walk the moors and face up to their respective buried secrets. Curated by Kate Mosse and commissioned for Emily Bronte's bicentenary year in 2018, these fresh, modern stories pulse with the raw beauty and pain of love and are as timely as they are illuminating. The full list of contributors is: Leila Aboulela, Hanan Al-Shaykh, Joanna Cannon, Alison Case, Juno Dawson, Louise Doughty, Sophie Hannah, Anna James, Erin Kelly, Dorothy Koomson, Grace McCleen, Lisa McInerney, Laurie Penny, Nikesh Shukla, Michael Stewart and Louisa Young.
July 2005. In the Pyrenees mountains near Carcassonne, Alice, a volunteer at an archaeological dig, stumbles into a cave and makes a startling discovery-two crumbling skeletons, strange writings on the walls, and the pattern of a labyrinth. Eight hundred years earlier, on the eve of a brutal crusade that will rip apart southern France, a young woman named Alais is given a ring and a mysterious book for safekeeping by her father. The book, he says, contains the secret of the true Grail, and the ring, inscribed with a labyrinth, will identify a guardian of the Grail. Now, as crusading armies gather outside the city walls of Carcassonne, it will take a tremendous sacrifice to keep the secret of the labyrinth safe.
Bringing sixteenth-century Languedoc vividly to life, Kate Mosse's The Burning Chambers is a gripping story of love and betrayal, mysteries and secrets; of war and adventure, conspiracies and divided loyalties . . . Carcassonne 1562: Nineteen-year-old Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter at her father's bookshop. Sealed with a distinctive family crest, it contains just five words: SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE. But before Minou can decipher the mysterious message, a chance encounter with a young Huguenot convert, Piet Reydon, changes her destiny forever. For Piet has a dangerous mission of his own, and he will need Minou's help if he is to get out of La Cite alive. Toulouse: As the religious divide deepens in the Midi, and old friends become enemies, Minou and Piet both find themselves trapped in Toulouse, facing new dangers as sectarian tensions ignite across the city, the battle-lines are drawn in blood and the conspiracy darkens further. Meanwhile, as a long-hidden document threatens to resurface, the mistress of Puivert is obsessed with uncovering its secret and strengthening her power . . .
Bringing sixteenth-century Languedoc vividly to life, Kate Mosse's The Burning Chambers is a gripping story of love and betrayal, mysteries and secrets; of war and adventure, conspiracies and divided loyalties . . . Carcassonne 1562: Nineteen-year-old Minou Joubert receives an anonymous letter at her father's bookshop. Sealed with a distinctive family crest, it contains just five words: SHE KNOWS THAT YOU LIVE. But before Minou can decipher the mysterious message, a chance encounter with a young Huguenot convert, Piet Reydon, changes her destiny forever. For Piet has a dangerous mission of his own, and he will need Minou's help if he is to get out of La Cite alive. Toulouse: As the religious divide deepens in the Midi, and old friends become enemies, Minou and Piet both find themselves trapped in Toulouse, facing new dangers as sectarian tensions ignite across the city, the battle-lines are drawn in blood and the conspiracy darkens further. Meanwhile, as a long-hidden document threatens to resurface, the mistress of Puivert is obsessed with uncovering its secret and strengthening her power . . .
Mit ihrem neuen Roman "e;Der Kreis der Rabenvogel"e; gelingt der international gefeierten Bestseller-Autorin Kate Mosse erneut ein groartiger Wurf: Ein historischer Spannungs-Roman mit Schauerelementen um eine faszinierende Heldin und ein dunkles Geheimnis. England, 1912: Connie, die Tochter des Tierprparators Gifford, lebt zurckgezogen mit ihrem Vater in der Nhe des kleinen Dorfes Fishbourne. Connie kann sich seit einem Sturz vor vielen Jahren nicht mehr an ihre Kindheit erinnern; ihr Vater verweigert jegliche Auskunft. Connie sprt, dass etwas nicht stimmt, denn erste Erinnerungsfetzen kehren zurck, sie fhlt sich beobachtet und verfolgt. Als man eine Leiche in den Smpfen findet, holt die Vergangenheit Connie, ihren Vater und eine Reihe scheinbar unbescholtener Brger auf grausame Weise ein. "e;Kate Mosses bestes Buch."e; Daily Telegraph"e;Mosse entwirft eine bravourse Szene nach der anderen. Dieses Buch steckt voller Herzblut und grandioser Twists. Die unvergessliche Heldin und das spannungsgeladene Geheimnis wird Ihre Gedanken noch lange nach dem Umblttern der letzten Seite beschftigen."e; The Independent
A gripping tale of mystery and adventure from the bestselling author of THE TAXIDERMIST'S DAUGHTER and LABYRINTH. 1891. Seventeen-year-old Leonie Vernier and her brother abandon Paris for the sanctuary of their aunt's isolated country house near Carcassonne, the Domaine de la Cade. But Leonie stumbles across a ruined sepulchre - and a timeless mystery whose traces are written in blood. 2007. Meredith Martin arrives at the Domaine de la Cade to research a biography. But Meredith is also seeking the key to her own complex legacy and becomes immersed in the story of a tragic love, a missing girl, a unique deck of tarot cards and the strange events of one cataclysmic night a century ago...
Sussex, 1912. In a churchyard, villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will die in the coming year are thought to be seen. Here, where the estuary leads out to the sea, superstitions still hold sway. Standing alone is the taxidermist's daughter. At 17, Constantia Gifford lives with her father in a decaying house: it is all that is left of Gifford's once world-famous museum of taxidermy. The stuffed animals that used to grace every parlour are out of fashion, leaving Gifford a disgraced and bitter man. The bell begins to toll and all eyes are fixed on the church. No one sees the gloved hand pick up a flint. As the last notes fade into the dark, a woman lies dead. While the village braces itself against rising waters and the highest tide of the season, Connie struggles to discover who is responsible, but finds herself under suspicion. Is Constantia who she seems - is she the victim of circumstances or are more sinister forces at work? And what is the secret that lies at the heart of Gifford House, hidden among the bell jars of her father's workshop? Told over one summer, THE TAXIDERMIST'S DAUGHTER is the haunting new novel from the bestselling author of LABYRINTH, SEPULCHRE, CITADEL and THE WINTER GHOSTS. Read by Clare Corbett
Combining medical and historical information with real life accounts of ordinary women, this book is an essential guide to the facts, feelings and emotions experienced during pregnancy and birth. It takes you week by week, from the decision to conceive, through to first impressions of life with your baby, offering invaluable information. Topics include: Conception - If and When; Feelings for Your Growing Baby; Your Career and Financial Position; Fear that Something May Go Wrong; Changing Relationships with Family and Friends; Choosing Where and How to Give Birth; How Others Felt - Women Relate their Experiences; The First Few Days with Your Baby
Voller Leidenschaft erzahlt Kate Mosse eine hoch emotionale Liebesgeschichte in Zeiten des Krieges - Der Nummer-1-Bestseller aus England. Carcassonne 1942: Jeden Tag sprt die junge Sandrine die Einschrnkungen durch den Krieg, doch ihre Lebensfreude lsst sie sich dadurch nicht nehmen. Selbst als sie berfallen wird, versteht sie die angstvolle Aufregung ihrer Freunde nicht: Bevor ihr Schlimmeres passieren kann, kommt ihr der junge Raoul zu Hilfe. Erst als sie erfhrt, dass die anderen lngst im Widerstand kmpfen, auch Raoul, begreift Sandrine die Gefahr, in der sie schweben ...
In einem kleinen franzosischen Dorf lernt Frederick die geheimnisvolle Fabrissa kennen. Vom ersten Moment an scheint etwas Besonderes zwischen ihnen zu sein - doch dann ist sie plotzlich verschwunden, und niemand kann sich an sie erinnern. In einer Hohle findet Frederick einen jahrhundertealten Brief, der eindeutig fur ihn bestimmt ist ...
Bei Ausgrabungen in einer Hohle des Languedoc entdeckt Alice Tanner zwei Skelette und eine labyrinthische Wandmalerei. Der Hauch des Bosen, den sie an dieser Statte spurt, weckt dunkle Vorahnungen in ihr. Als sich die Polizei einschaltet, verstarkt sich Alices Gefuhl, dass an dem ratselhaften Ort etwas geschehen ist, das im Verborgenen hatte bleiben sollen. Etwas, das weit in die Vergangenheit zuruckreicht ... Achthundert Jahre zuvor erhlt die junge Alas am selben Ort ein Buch mit fremdartigen Zeichen, deren schicksalhafte Bedeutung sie kennt. Sie wei dass sie das Geheimnis des Buches hten muss - um jeden Preis. Verlust, Intrige, Gewalt und Leidenschaft prgen fortan das Leben beider Frauen. Und immer wieder werden ihrer beider Schicksale durch das Labyrinth auf geheimnisvolle Weise miteinander verknpft
Als die junge Meredith auf der Suche nach ihren Wurzeln durch Paris streift, stot sie auf ein seltenes und unvollstandiges Set Tarotkarten aus vergangener Zeit. Die geheimnisvollen Abbildungen schlagen sie sofort in ihren Bann, denn eine Figur tragt unverkennbar Merediths Gesichtszuge. Was die junge Frau nicht wei: Die Karten erzahlen von einem schrecklichen Ungluck in ihrer Familie - und es scheint, als habe sie die alten Geister wieder geweckt ...
From the New York Times bestselling author of Sepulchre and Labyrinth-a compelling story of love, ghosts and remembrance. World War I robbed England and France of an entire generation of friends, lovers and futures. In Freddie Watson's case, the battlefields took his beloved brother and, at times, his peace of mind. In the winter of 1928, still seeking some kind of resolution, Freddie is travelling through the beautiful but forbidding French Pyrenees. During a snowstorm, his car spins off the mountain road. Freezing and dazed, he stumbles through the woods, emerging in a tiny village, where he finds an inn to wait out the blizzard. There he meets Fabrissa, a lovely young woman also mourning a lost generation. Over the course of one night, Fabrissa and Freddie share their stories. By the time dawn breaks, Freddie will have unearthed a tragic mystery that goes back through the centuries, and discovered his own role in the life of this old remote town.By turns thrilling, poignant, and haunting, this is a story of two lives touched by war and transformed by courage.
October 1891: Seventeen-year-old Lonie Vernier and her brother, Anatole, abandon the gaslit streets of Paris for the sleepy mountain town of Rennes-les-Bains in southwest France. Theyve come at the invitation of their widowed aunt, whose estate, the Domaine de la Cade, is famous in the region. But their aunt, and the Domaine, are not what Lonie had imagined. Aunt Isolde is young, willowy, and beautiful, yet with a melancholy air that suits the slightly sinister Domaine. Lonie discovers that the isolated country house and its ancient forests have long been the subject of local superstition; when she stumbles across a ruined Visigoth sepulchre, she unwittingly involves herself with the timeless mystery of this eerie place, which may be spelled out in a strange pack of tarot cards that is rumored to hold the power of life and death. While Lonie delves deeper into the secrets of the Domaine, a different evil stalks her familyone that may explain why Lonie and Anatole were invited to Rennes-les-Bains in the first place.October 2007: More than a century later, Meredith Martin, an American graduate student, arrives in Rennes-les-Bains. She checks into a grand old hotelthe Domaine de la Cadeand almost instantly, strange dreams and visions begin to haunt her waking hours. A chance encounter leads her to a pack of tarot cards painted by Lonie Vernier, which may hold the key to this twenty-first-century Americans fate . . . and explain the ties that bind the two women together.As the Feast of All Saints approacheswhen the veil between life and death is thinnestMeredith is drawn inexorably to a secluded forest glade where the secrets of the past are far from buried. From the Compact Disc edition.