The Taxidermist’s Daughter
The Taxidermist’s Daughter by Kate Mosse, published by Orion in 2014, is a literary fiction set in Sussex during 1912. The story unfolds in a churchyard where villagers gather, believing that the ghosts of those destined to die in the coming year will appear. Constantia Gifford, the taxidermist’s daughter, lives with her father in a decaying house filled with remnants of his once-renowned museum of taxidermy. As the village faces rising waters and the highest tide of the season, a mysterious death occurs, prompting Connie to confront her lost memories and the secrets surrounding her family’s past.
Readers will find a narrative that explores themes of memory, loss, and the impact of superstition on a small community. As Connie grapples with the events leading to the museum’s closure and the strange occurrences in her life, she seeks to uncover the truth behind the death and the enigmatic figures that haunt her. The novel delves into the complexities of her identity and the hidden secrets within Blackthorn House, all while maintaining a rich atmosphere steeped in local lore and intrigue. With 409 pages, this edition invites readers to immerse themselves in a world where the past and present intertwine.
Official synopsis Publisher
Sussex, 1912.
In a churchyard, villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will die in the coming year are thought to walk. Here, where the estuary leads out to the sea, superstitions still hold sway.
Standing alone is the taxidermist’s daughter. At twenty-two, Constantia Gifford lives with her father in a decaying house: it contains all that is left of Gifford’s once world-famous museum of taxidermy. The stuffed birds that used to grace every parlour are out of fashion, leaving Gifford a disgraced and bitter man. The string of events that led to the museum’s closure are never spoken of and an accident has robbed Connie of any memory of those days.
The bell begins to toll and all eyes are fixed on the church. No one sees the gloved hands holding a garotte. As the last notes fade into the dark, a woman lies dead.
While the village braces itself against rising waters and the highest tide of the season, Connie struggles to discover who is responsible – and why the incident is causing memories to surface from her own vanished years. Does she know the figure she sees watching from the marshes? Who is the mysterious caller that leaves a note without being seen? And what is the secret that lies at the heart of Blackthorn House, hidden among the bell jars of her father’s workshop?
The Taxidermist’s Daughter is the stunning new novel from the multi-million copy bestselling author, Kate Mosse.
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