The Midwife

The Midwife by Tricia Cresswell is a haunting and moving debut that follows a woman who is found alone, naked, near death on the Northumberland moors and must build her life from scratch. Dr. Borthwick lives a solitary life working as an accoucheur in London, but he is hiding a dark secret from his past.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 02 February 2023
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

A captivating and poignant debut, "The Midwife" by Tricia Cresswell is a must-read for fans of "The Familiars" and "The Binding." Set in 1830, the story follows a woman who is found naked and near death on the Northumberland moors, with no memory of her identity or how she arrived there. However, she possesses remarkable skills in childbirth, wound dressing, and fluent French. Despite the overwhelming challenges she faces as a penniless single woman, she courageously builds a new life for herself, using her talents to assist other women in need. She finds solace and happiness in her newfound community until tragedy strikes, forcing her to flee for her life.

Meanwhile, in London, Dr. Borthwick leads a solitary existence as an accoucheur, working alongside his midwife, Mrs. Bates, attending to mothers and babies in both the opulent homes of high society and alongside a young widow, Eleanor Johnson, volunteering in the slums of the Devil's Acre. His professional reputation is unblemished, and he maintains a strict separation between his private and professional lives, shunning any new acquaintances. However, he is harboring a deep and dark secret from his past, one that threatens to unravel everything he has worked so hard to maintain.

As the two narratives intertwine, the woman's past begins to unravel, revealing a shocking truth that connects her to Dr. Borthwick's hidden past. The story is filled with suspense, mystery, and emotional depth, as the characters navigate through a web of lies and secrets, trying to protect themselves and those they care about from the consequences of their actions.

"The Midwife" is a beautifully written and atmospheric novel that will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. Tricia Cresswell has masterfully crafted a story that is both haunting and heartwarming, and her characters are fully realized and relatable. This debut is a testament to her talent as a writer and a must-read for fans of historical fiction and psychological suspense.

Weight: 254g
Dimension: 130 x 197 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781529066838