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The Corset

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The Corset

By: Laura Purcell
Narrated by: Nathalie Buscombe
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About this listen

The new Victorian chiller from the author of Radio 2 Book Club pick The Silent Companions sees a teenage seamstress convinced she can control people’s fates through the clothes she makes for them.

Dorothea and Ruth. Ruth and Dorothea.

Prison visitor and prisoner. Powerful and powerless.

Dorothea Truelove is young, wealthy and beautiful. Ruth Butterham is young, poor and awaiting trial for murder. When Dorothea is asked to visit Ruth as part of her charitable works, she could not be more delighted. Her first encounter with a murderer will provide the perfect opportunity to explore Dorothea’s fascination with phrenology and test her theories that the shape of a person’s skull can cast a light on their darkest crimes.

But the story Ruth has to tell - of bitterness and betrayal, of death and destruction - will shake Dorothea’s belief in rationality and the power of redemption. Can Ruth be trusted? Is she mad or a murderer?

©2018 Laura Purcell (P)2018 Audible, Ltd Crime Historical Murder Supernatural Suspense Thriller & Suspense Paranormal Emotionally Gripping Scary Fiction Exciting
All stars
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A slowly evolving story which is quite different. Well written and well narrated, worth a listen.

Really enjoyed this one!

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I loved this, was gripped all the way through. Original story, will look for more by this author.

Fantastic

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I enjoyed this shop much. very well written, excellent story and some great twists. reminded me of novels by Sarah waters. well with a read. really good author.

Excellent book

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Oh wow, I wasn’t expecting that! Fantastic ending. BRILLIANTLY read by Nathalie Buscombe, who really conveyed the mood of the book in both prose and dialogue. I know it’s a cliche, but the best words I can find to describe this book are ‘dark and compelling’. I was enthralled from start to finish, and couldn’t stop listening.
I started off thinking Dorothea could have done more to help Ruth, but as a woman of her time she had very little power herself. It’s true, as others have said, we do not hear what happens to all the characters, but I felt there was enough about them in the story to have a pretty good idea of the direction their lives would take. Laura Purcell has given us a true masterpiece!

A masterpiece

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I have no idea how Laura Purcell consistently comes up with such unusual ideas. I absolutely loved the characters in this book and the ideas behind the story.
The atmosphere is so dark, haunting and mysterious. The writing is beautiful. The voices of the two heroines are clearly different and both strong, powerfully haunting characters, reflecting the experiences of their class.
A wonderful gothic horror, superbly narrated. It did seem like a long tale but I was captivated the whole way through.
I cannot wait to see what bizarre, original, creative and addictive idea Laura comes up with next!

Laura Purcell does it again!

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