<p>In this tantalizing tale of Victorian ghost stories and family secrets timid solitary librarian Gerard Freeman lives for just two things: his elusive pen pal Alice and a story he found hidden in his mother’s drawer years ago. Written by his great-grandmother Viola it hints at his mother’s role in a sinister crime. As he discovers more of Viola’s chilling tales he realizes that they might hold the key to finding Alice and unveiling his family’s mystery—or will they bring about his untimely death as they seem to foretell?</p><p>Harwood’s astonishing assured debut shows us just how dangerous family skeletons—and stories—can be.</p>