Caroline Lea

'Memorable and compelling. A novel about what haunts us - and what should' Sarah Moss, author of Ghost Wall A rich and captivating tale of superstition and salvation, love and fear, for fans of The Binding, The Miniaturist and The Silent Companions. 1686, Iceland. An isolated, windswept land haunted by witch trials and steeped in the ancient sagas . . . ____________ Betrothed unexpectedly to Jón Eiríksson, Rósa is sent to join her new husband in the remote village of Stykkishólmur. Here, the villagers are wary of outsiders. But Rósa harbours her own suspicions. Her husband buried his first wife alone in the dead of night. He will not speak of it. The villagers mistrust them both. Dark threats are whispered. There is an evil here - Rósa can feel it. Is it her husband, the villagers - or the land itself? Alone and far from home, Rósa sees the darkness coming. She fears she will be its next victim . . . If you liked The Binding, The Familiars and you'll like this. ____________ 'Intensely written and atmospheric, with an unusual setting, this is a stark evocation of a community where fear of the outsider is rife and unsettling' Daily Mail 'Utterly unputdownable. Rich in superstition and mystery, it pulled me in. An incredible novel' Ali Land, author of Good Me Bad Me 'Haunting, evocative and utterly compelling. The Glass Woman transports the reader to a time and place steeped in mystery, where nothing is ever quite as it seems. Stunning' Tracy Borman, author of The King's Witch 'Like a ghost story told around a winter fire, The Glass Woman is taut, haunting, and broodingly tense. Playing out against the harsh backdrop of the Icelandic winter, it kept me hooked all the way to the end' Tim Leach, author of Smile of the Wolf 'Suspenseful, gripping and beautifully drawn' Cecilia Ekbäck, author of Wolf Winter

The Glass Woman

"The story of true innocents caught up in the machinery of war. Exquisitely researched, beautifully told, this tiny corner of Scotland came alive for me in all of my senses and I found myself rooting for the central characters with all my heart." --Mary Beth Keane, author of Ask Again, Yes In the dark days of World War II, an unlikely romance blossoms between a Scottish woman and an Italian prisoner of war in this haunting novel with the emotional complexity of The Boat Runner and All the Light We Cannot See--a powerful and atmospheric story of love, jealousy, and conscience that illuminates the beauty of the human spirit from the author of The Glass Woman. In the wake of the Allies' victory in North Africa, 500 Italian soldiers have been sent to a remote island off the Scottish coast to wait out the war in a newly constructed prison camp. Their arrival has divided the island's community. Nerves frayed from three years of war and the constant threat of invasion, many locals fear the enemy prisoners and do not want them here. Where their neighbors see bloodthirsty enemies, however, orphaned sisters Dorothy and Constance see sick and wounded men unused to the freezing cold of an Orkney winter, and volunteer to nurse them. While doing so Dorothy finds herself immediately drawn to Cesare, a young man broken by the horrors of battle. To remind themselves of the homeland they yearn for, the prisoners--among them bricklayers, carpenters, metal workers, and artists--begin to build a chapel, turning debris and rubble into an exquisite monument to hope. The creation of something pure and holy in the middle of war captivates the islanders, and temporarily blurs the line between ally and enemy. But as the war drags on, tensions between the islanders and the outsiders deepen, threatening the bond Dorothy and Constance share. Since the loss of their parents, the sisters have relied on each other. Now, their loyalty will be tested, each forced to weigh duty against desire . . . until, one fateful evening, a choice must be made, one that that will have devastating consequences.

A Novel of Love and Valor in World War II

The Metal Heart

A Novel

Prize Women

The Beautiful and Atmospheric Story of Freedom and Love That Will Grip Your Hear T

Metal Heart

El paisaje inhóspito y desfigurado por la lava puede tragarse a un hombre sin que los volcanes exhalen un solo suspiro. Islandia, 1686. Tras su inesperado compromiso matrimonial con Jon Eriksson, Rosa abandona su hogar para instalarse en la remota e inhóspita aldea de Stykkisholmur. Pero sus nuevos vecinos desconfían de los forasteros. Sobre todo, de una mujer que, como ella, procede de los misteriosos umbrales de la civilización. Pero Rosa también abriga sus sospechas. Su marido enterró a su primera esposa solo y en plena noche. Jon se niega a hablar de ello, pero le regala una figurilla de cristal cuyo significado Rosa no entiende. Los lugareños los miran no solo con recelo, sino con temor. Murmuran siniestras amenazas. Rosa intuye la presencia del mal. Aislada y lejos de su hogar, ve cernerse sobre ella la oscuridad. Y teme ser su próxima víctima. Con la Islandia del siglo XVII como escenario, con su trasfondo de juicios por brujería y turbulencias volcánicas, La mujer de cristal es un relato poderoso y apasionante acerca de la superstición y la salvación, el amor y el miedo. "Una novela de esas que literalmente no puedes soltar. Rica en misterio y superchería, me conquistó. Una novela increíble". Ali Land autor de Niña buena, Niña mala "Como una historia de miedo contada alrededor de una fogata. La mujer de cristal tiene tensión, es evocadora e inquietante. Ambientada en el invierno islandés, me enganchó desde el principio hasta el final" Tim Leach, autor de La sonrisa del lobo. "Inquietante, adictivo y bellamente dibujado". Cecilia Ekcack, autora de El invierno más largo "Un fantástico y atmosférico debut". The Times "Con una escritura intenta y una atmosfera magistralmente recreada, esta novela ofrece un vívido retrato de una comunidad en la que el miedo al forastero domina los corazones". The Daily Mail

La mujer de cristal

When the Sky Fell Apart

Lily di Marco and Mae Thebault used to be inseparable. They lived under the same roof and cared for each other's children - in world where men held all the power, they looked out for one another. But then the Great Depression hits, changing everything. Both women will be forced to make impossible decisions to save themselves - and their families - from ruin. As the fever of the Great Stork Derby grips the nation, as woman is pitted against woman, friend against friend, mother against mother - what bond will prove most sacred? That of family, or that of unimaginable wealth?

Lily di Marco and Mae Thebault were once friends. They lived under the same roof and cared for each other's children - they were inseparable. But the Great Depression changed everything, and both women were forced to make impossible decisions to save themselves from ruin Ten years later, Lily and Mae couldn't be further apart. And as The Great Stork Derby, the sensational baby making contest with money as the prize, makes headlines around the world the women must face up to their part in it, and the consequences . . .

Prized Women

In the dark days of World War II, an unlikely romance blossoms between a Scottish woman and an Italian prisoner of war in this haunting novel with the emotional complexity of The Boat Runner and All the Light We Cannot See--a powerful and atmospheric story of love, jealousy, and conscience that illuminates the beauty of the human spirit from the author of The Glass Woman. In the wake of the Allies' victory in North Africa, 500 Italian soldiers have been sent to a remote island off the Scottish coast to wait out the war in a newly constructed prison camp. Their arrival has divided the island's community. Nerves frayed from three years of war and the constant threat of invasion, many locals fear the enemy prisoners and do not want them here. Where their neighbors see bloodthirsty enemies, however, orphaned sisters Dorothy and Constance see sick and wounded men unused to the freezing cold of an Orkney winter, and volunteer to nurse them. While doing so Dorothy finds herself immediately drawn to Cesare, a young man broken by the horrors of battle. To remind themselves of the homeland they yearn for, the prisoners--among them bricklayers, carpenters, metal workers, and artists--begin to build a chapel, turning debris and rubble into an exquisite monument to hope. The creation of something pure and holy in the middle of war captivates the islanders, and temporarily blurs the line between ally and enemy. But as the war drags on, tensions between the islanders and the outsiders deepen, threatening the bond Dorothy and Constance share. Since the loss of their parents, the sisters have relied on each other. Now, their loyalty will be tested, each forced to weigh duty against desire . . . until, one fateful evening, a choice must be made, one that that will have devastating consequences.

A Novel of World War II

Pre-order the astonishing new novel based on one of history's most shocking untold stories, from the author of The Metal Heart 'A highly original and inventive writer' Sunday Times Lily di Marco and Mae Thebault were once friends. They lived under the same roof and cared for each other's children - they were inseparable. But the Great Depression changed everything, and both women were forced to make impossible decisions to save themselves from ruin Ten years later, Lily and Mae couldn't be further apart. And as The Great Stork Derby, the sensational baby making contest with money as the prize, makes headlines around the world the women must face up to their part in it, and the consequences . . . *** PRAISE FOR Caroline Lea: 'Memorable and compelling' Sarah Moss 'Enthralling' Stacey Halls 'Caroline's beautiful writing transported me entirely to another time and land' Susan Fletcher 'Lea writes beautifully' The Times 'Atmospheric, heart-wrenching, evocative - this is a gorgeously written story about the scars we carry with us, and how they can be overcome' Gytha Lodge 'Exquisitely researched, beautifully told' Mary Beth Keane

Jersey, June 1940: it starts with the burning man on the beach just after the bombs land, obliterating the last shred of hope that Hitler will avert his attention from the Channel Islands. Within weeks, 12,000 German troops land on the Jersey beaches, heralding a new era of occupation. When The Sky Fell Apart is a heartbreaking chorus of the resilience of the human spirit. These memorable characters take you on a journey through the war and linger with you long after the last page.

Rau, düster und bitterkalt Island 1686: Die junge Rósa leidet unter so bitterer Armut, dass sie befürchtet, den Winter nicht zu überleben. In ihrer Verzweiflung nimmt sie den Antrag des reichen Händlers Jón an, der eine Frau für Haus und Hof sucht. Rósa folgt ihm in sein Dorf und trifft bei den Einwohnern auf eine Mauer aus Argwohn und Ablehnung. Düstere Legenden ranken sich um Jón. Man erzählt sich, er habe seine erste Frau Anna umgebracht. Jón schweigt dazu unerbittlich. Einziger Trost für Rósa ist eine kleine Glasfigur, die er ihr zur Hochzeit schenkte. Trotz aller Widrigkeiten erscheint sie unzerbrechlich, während das Böse um Rósa herum immer greifbarer wird. Als das Dorf eines Nachts von Schnee und Eis bedeckt wird, rückt die Bedrohung näher, und diesmal steht Rósa im Auge des Sturms. »Ein fantastisches Debüt voller Atmosphäre.« - The Times

Roman

Die Farbe von Glas

She turned to look at the sea. Flat stretch of water, blank and blue as the sky above. Pretty as a picture, except with black and grey craters where the bombs had fallen: as though some thuggish child had scrawled all over the picture out of spite alone... Jersey, June 1940. It starts with the burning man on the beach just after the bombs land, obliterating the last shred of hope that Hitler will avert his attention from the Channel Islands. Within weeks, 12,000 German troops land on the Jersey beaches, heralding a new era of occupation. For ten-year-old Claudine, it means a re-education under German rule, and as she befriends one of the soldiers, she inadvertently opens the gateway to a more sinister influence in her home with devastating consequences. For Maurice, a local fisherman, it means protecting his sick wife at all costs—even if it endangers his own life. Edith, the island’s unofficial homeopath, is a Jerriais through to her bones. But even she can’t save everyone, no matter how hard she tries. And as for English doctor Tim Carter—on the arrival of the brutal German Commandant, he becomes the subject of a terrifying regime that causes the locals to brand him a traitor, unaware of the torment he suffers in an effort to save them. When the Sky Fell Apart is a heartbreaking chorus of the resilience of the human spirit. It introduces an exciting new voice in literary fiction. Caroline Lea was born and raised in Jersey. She gained a First in English Literature and Creative Writing from Warwick University and has had poetry published in The Phoenix Anthology and An Aston Anthology, which she also co-edited. When the Sky Fell Apart is her first novel. ‘An ambitious portrayal of the German occupation of Jersey during the Second World War...Lea’s fondness for Jersey brings the landscape to life with vivid descriptions, which are one of the novel’s highlights. An intriguing depiction of life under nazi occupation, the book explores a time and place rarely covered in fiction. It is an engaging narrative, and Lea should be applauded for a successful portrait of resilience and the strength of friendships during the challenges of wartime.’ Lady ‘[A] strong debut...A moving and chilling portrait of life under Nazi heel.’ Sunday Times ‘Haunting...Through her characters’ struggles, Lea explores the unlikely affinities that arise between humans during violent times and questions how far we might go to protect those we love.’ Australian Women’s Weekly ‘This is a strong and lyrical first novel, that moves adroitly from the obscenity of war to the complexities of marriages, children, loss and loneliness.’ Otago Daily Times ‘Debut author Lea evokes the land with the lyrical fondness of a native... A finely detailed exploration of life during wartime.’ Kirkus Reviews ‘Prepare for your heart to break...Deserves to be read, not only for the blast of reality from the past, but also as a warning for the future.’ Lovereading ‘When the Sky Fell Apart is exceptional...one of those books that is difficult but nevertheless important.’ Wormhole

Caroline Lea

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