Hazardous Spirits

Evelyn Hazard's life is turned upside down when her husband reveals he can communicate with the dead, leading her into the spiritualist movement of 1920s Edinburgh. She must confront dark secrets from her past and decide if he is a fraud or telling the truth.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: John Murray Press

A captivating tale of mystery and suspense, "Hazardous Spirits" takes readers on a thrilling journey through the heart of 1920s Edinburgh. Francine Toon, the talented author of "Pine," has crafted a darkly sparkling jewel of a book that will leave you breathless.

Set in the vibrant city of Edinburgh, the story revolves around Evelyn Hazard, a young woman living a comfortable and unremarkable middle-class life. However, everything changes when her steady, reliable husband, Robert, makes a startling announcement: he can communicate with the dead.

As the couple delves deeper into the spiritualist movement that emerged following the mass deaths caused by the First World War and the Spanish Flu, Evelyn's life becomes increasingly unsettled as dark secrets from her past threaten to surface. Faced with the prospect of losing all that is dear to her, Evelyn finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew about her husband and the world around her.

"Hazardous Spirits" is a gothic literary mystery written in sparkling prose that evokes the spirit of 1920s Edinburgh, in all its bohemian vibrancy. With the literary lyricism and precise historical detail of a Sarah Waters novel, Salam injects a wry humor into this tale of secrets, lies, and the power of the ghosts of our pasts.

Full of heart and strangeness, "Hazardous Spirits" will keep you engrossed from the first page to the last. Nell Stevens, the author of "Briefly, A Delicious Life," praised the book for its "riveting exploration of the unknowable." Tara Isabella Burton, the author of "Social Creature," described it as a "captivating exploration of the unknowable."

In conclusion, "Hazardous Spirits" is a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery, historical fiction, or a tale that delves into the supernatural. Francine Toon's exceptional writing and vivid storytelling make this book a true masterpiece that will leave you haunted long after you turn the last page.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 147 x 227 x 35 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399806589