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The Naked Light

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The Naked Light

By: Bridget Collins
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About this listen

 A village haunted by stories. Two women bound by a secret.

A haunting gothic tale of ancient darkness and a love that defies convention, from Sunday Times #1 bestseller Bridget Collins.

'At once a moving study of women's lives after the First World War, an exquisite love story and a terrifying folk horror. So beautifully written that I could hardly bear to stop reading, this is Bridget Collins at her beguiling best' EMILIA HART

'Bridget Collins’ writing haunts my dreams’ ERIN KELLY

'A spine-chillingly scary romance and a heartwarmingly romantic horror novel… I raced through it at breakneck speed even as I wished it would go on forever. Beautifully written, thrillingly imagined, and a joy on every page' SANDRA NEWMAN

'I honestly never thought another author could rival Sarah Waters… but I was wrong. I haven't read a historical novel quite as good as this in years!' LOUISE MORRISH

Watching over the village of Haltington is an ancient carving in the ground, known to locals simply as the Face. It was first etched into the chalk when lives were ruled by superstition and stories; by fear of the unknown, of the shadows.

For centuries, the inhabitants of Bone Cottage have tended to it. But now that the Great War has decimated the population of even this most isolated of places, the Face stands neglected and overgrown.

When enigmatic outsider Kit moves into the cottage, the villagers are suspicious of her androgynous appearance and bohemian ways. In defiance of their disapproval, the vicar’s unmarried sister-in-law Florence finds herself inexplicably drawn to Kit, and the friendship that grows between them becomes a light in the dark for her.

But the Face calls things to it, and now Florence and Kit are in its path…

A haunting gothic tale of ancient darkness and a love that defies convention, from Sunday Times #1 bestseller Bridget Collins.

READERS ARE LOVING

'Oh my, this is just lovely reading… atmospheric and beautifully composed' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I love books by this author and think this could be her best thus far. Wow, what a read. It truly has a gothic horror feel about it, a slow creeping dread fills the book, and I loved it!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

©2025 Bridget Collins (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers 20th Century Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Magical Realism World War I Romance Scary Heartfelt Village Haunted

Critic reviews

'Atmospheric, psychologically astute and beautifully realised, this is a brilliantly original literary take on folk horror' GUARDIAN

'At once a moving study of women's lives after the First World War, an exquisite love story and a terrifying folk horror. So beautifully written that I could hardly bear to stop reading, this is Bridget Collins at her beguiling best' EMILIA HART, author of WEYWARD

'This haunting story brims with atmosphere' PRIMA

'This aching slow-burn tale of forbidden love and emancipation has added gothic bite' HEAT

'Bridget Collins’ writing haunts my dreams’ ERIN KELLY

'Sublime and terrifying at the same time, sad, sometimes shocking, always utterly gripping' ROSIE ANDREWS, author of THE LEVIATHAN

'A haunting and mesmerising tale' WOMAN'S OWN

'What a treat this was! The Naked Light really does have everything – fantasy, folk horror, romance, history – as well as singing prose and fully-realised characters whose stories are interwoven with the landscape and the unfolding nightmare of the first World War. A book that feels at once wonderfully original and yet searingly timely, this is Collins at her very best' C.J. COOKE

'A spine-chillingly scary romance and a heartwarmingly romantic horror novel… I raced through it at breakneck speed even as I wished it would go on forever. Beautifully written, thrillingly imagined, and a joy on every page' SANDRA NEWMAN, author of JULIA

'I honestly never thought another author could rival Sarah Waters in terms of plot and quality and characterisation, but I was wrong. Bridget Collins' new book is every bit as good as Waters' best. The Naked Light was utterly beguiling, heart-shatteringly emotional, and will stay with me for a very, very long time. Hand on heart, I haven't read a historical novel quite as good as this for years!' LOUISE MORRISH, author of WOMEN OF WAR

All stars
Most relevant
First off, TBH I brought this because I had a spare credit, as I had never read anything by Bridget Collins, but what a good choice. I found this story very compelling, and a joy to listen to. The characters were so real it could have been the true story of their lives. It built the character and story, without just dropping you into the horror, that built slowly in the backgrond, always slightly present, but not until the right time did it burst out of the story. After listening to it once I went out and brought the special hard back for my collection, though I expect my own voice in my head won't sound half as good as Bridget Collins does on this app, and then I listened to it a second time. If i was an author I would wish I could write as well as this.
I know this wraps up so well, but would love another set some 12 to 15 years after. A 5 star book if I ever heard one.

Was like listening to real history

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Got through this one too quickly! Bridget Collins you never disappoint. Loved this so much.

Fantastic!

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I’m usually wary of authors reading their own work but this was an exception - perfect narration of an enthralling interweaving story, the folklore elements balancing beautifully with each character’s backstory and connections. Loved it

Another excellent Bridget Collins tale

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This could have been so much more. The idea was great and the last few chapters were so exciting and scary. But it took me ages to get into the book and I listened to the first half over and over to try and get caught up in the story but I kept falling asleep. Not her best work.

Underdeveloped and disappointing

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Bridget Collins was an incredible narrator which is unusual for authors reading their own books. The storyline wove so many subjects together, but the essence of what love is stood out strongly throughout. This is a unique novel and I highly recommend it.

Absolutely spellbinding

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