"Bewitching, chilling, and utterly compelling, five sisters become the target of ill will in an 18th century rural village."
Beautifully addictive, this memorable novel still haunts my thoughts. As a heatwave strikes, and strange things occur, five sisters find blame is flung their way. Debut author Xenobe Purvis writes with a bewitching pen, her descriptive detailing evokes feelings and the sense of place of Little Nettlebed ran amok through my thoughts.
Even as the atmosphere and accusations lie heavy and wallow along with the heat, there is also a purity and lightness of touch to be found. The innocence of joy and the strength of friendship and love, butt up against the shackles of community and danger of mob hysteria. I absolutely adored the sense of intrigue that kept me company, I found myself swaying, uncertain as to what I was witnessing.
There were times when I felt as though I was tiptoeing through glass shards, intently watchful, careful, ready to gather up my thoughts and run. This richly heady yet emotionally intelligent novel just had to enter our LoveReading Star Books Category, and I’ve also chosen it as a Liz Pick of the Month.
Provocative and bewitching The Hounding is an intensely powerful read. Highly recommended.
**SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2026**'Extraordinary . . . clever, strange and beautifully written' THE TIMES
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Recommendations: |
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**SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2026**'Extraordinary . . . clever, strange and beautifully written' THE TIMES'Prompts thoughts of both THE CRUCIBLE and THE VIRGIN SUICIDES . . . Purvis is an exquisitely accomplished wordsmith.' DAILY TELEGRAPH'A taut, tense tale, impeccably told' FINANCIAL TIMES'Feverish, finely wrought and unforgettable.' DAILY MAIL'An unflinchingly strange and savage novel - a rare and twisted pleasure, and an unmissable must-read for every girl who has ever been made to feel strange.' LUCY ROSE, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE LAMB'Haunting and beguiling, this fever dream of a novel draws you in and colours your mind all shades of doubt and suspicion.' STACEY HALLS, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE FAMILIARS'Melancholy and bittersweet.' OTEGHA UWAGBA, Sunday Times bestselling author of LITTLE BLACK BOOK'A novel of rare grace and skill, exquisitely wrought and simmering with feral violence.' ROWE IRVIN, author of LIFE CYCLE OF A MOTHMany stories are told about the five Mansfield sisters.
The Hounding features in the following genres: Liz Robinson's Picks of the Month, Star Books, Historical Fiction
Paperback, Hardback. £8.99, down from the £9.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Hounding was written by Xenobe Purvis and published by Penguin Books an imprint of Cornerstone
The Hounding has 144 pages
£8.99, reduced from £9.99. In Stock.
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