Her scandal. His revenge. The unforgettable new historical novel from award-winning author, Kate Foster.
St Monans, Fife, Scotland 1790. Two women are forced to publicly repent in church, one for adultery the other for breaching the sabbath. Wealthy housewife, Florrie, and salt serf, Eliza, form a quick and unusual bond over their mutual humiliation. So when Florrie's husband decides she must accompany him on a trade venture to Iceland, she insists Eliza comes as her maid.
Far from home, isolated and fearful, the two women grow ever closer. Then Florrie's husband reveals his sinister plan: he will leave her in Iceland, banished for the shame she has cast upon him. Florrie must escape, but when she turns to Eliza for help she realizes nothing is quite as it seems . . .
Inspired by an attempt by Scottish merchants to annex Iceland as a remote prison for the British Empire, The Repentants is a chilling tale of betrayal, exile and survival from the Women's Prize long-listed author of The Maiden, Kate Foster.
'Nothing short of a masterpiece' - Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal
Praise for Kate Foster:
'Tense, thrilling . . . with a decidedly feminist slant' - Daily Mail
'The tension persists until the last page' - The Times
'Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling. Foster transports the reader back in time, bringing alive the forgotten and hidden voices of women in the past' - D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance
| ISBN: | 9781035052103 |
| Publication date: | 28th May 2026 |
| Author: | Kate Foster |
| Publisher: | Mantle an imprint of Pan Macmillan |
| Format: | Hardback |
| Pagination: | 319 pages |
| Genres: |
Historical Fiction Narrative theme: Love and relationships Narrative theme: Displacement, exile, migration Modern and Contemporary Fiction |
Her scandal. His revenge. The unforgettable new historical novel from award-winning author, Kate Foster.
St Monans, Fife, Scotland 1790. Two women are forced to publicly repent in church, one for adultery the other for breaching the sabbath. Wealthy housewife, Florrie, and salt serf, Eliza, form a quick and unusual bond over their mutual humiliation. So when Florrie's husband decides she must accompany him on a trade venture to Iceland, she insists Eliza comes as her maid.
Far from home, isolated and fearful, the two women grow ever closer. Then Florrie's husband reveals his sinister plan: he will leave her in Iceland, banished for the shame she has cast upon him. Florrie must escape, but when she turns to Eliza for help she realizes nothing is quite as it seems . . .
Inspired by an attempt by Scottish merchants to annex Iceland as a remote prison for the British Empire, The Repentants is a chilling tale of betrayal, exile and survival from the Women's Prize long-listed author of The Maiden, Kate Foster.
'Nothing short of a masterpiece' - Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal
Praise for Kate Foster:
'Tense, thrilling . . . with a decidedly feminist slant' - Daily Mail
'The tension persists until the last page' - The Times
'Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling. Foster transports the reader back in time, bringing alive the forgotten and hidden voices of women in the past' - D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance
The Repentants features in the following genres: Historical Fiction, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Narrative theme: Displacement, exile, migration, Modern and Contemporary Fiction
The Repentants is available in Hardback, Paperback
The Repentants was written by Kate Foster and published by Mantle an imprint of Pan Macmillan
The Repentants has 319 pages
£17.09