Murder Ballad - Lucy Ribchester, Bonnier Books Ltd

'A beautiful sensory overload . . . I didn't want it to end.'&amp,nbsp,- Kirstin Innes, bestselling author of&amp,nbsp,Scabby QueenThree women. A deadly score to settle.EDINBURGH, 1791.&amp,nbsp,Isobel Duguid and her friend, the famous castrato Clessidro, are stars of the Edinburgh Musical Society. Despite her cavalier attitude towards holding a tune, Clessidro's friendship and her own&amp,nbsp,shocking murder ballads&amp,nbsp,keep Isobel on stage and enjoying an opulent lifestyle in Auld Reekie.Yet one night a note arrives from the mysterious Mrs Abercorn, regarding Isobel's most notorious song,&amp,nbsp,The Fiddler's Wrath.&amp,nbsp,It's the tale of a prima donna who died of heartbreak after her husband committed murder andwas sent to the gallows.&amp,nbsp,Isobel is intrigued.But Mrs Abercorn's curiosity is far more than a fickle interest and&amp,nbsp,the truth is more complicated than anyone could have imagined. As Isobel recounts rising through the social classes, her role in this ill-fated tune is brought to light, awakening the chilling retribution of a&amp,nbsp,once buried secret.A story of betrayal, mystery, and the secrets some would die to protect. Perfect for fans of&amp,nbsp,Patrick Süskind&amp,nbsp,Perfume and&amp,nbsp,Kate Foster's&amp,nbsp,The Maiden.'This&amp,nbsp,glorious romp through the filth, greed and duplicity of 18th century Edinburgh&amp,nbsp,is a feminist delight. Highly recommended.'&amp,nbsp,- Mary Paulson-Ellis'A&amp,nbsp,wildly original&amp,nbsp,and alarmingly readable historical novel whose&amp,nbsp,dark, blood-soaked narrative&amp,nbsp,takes us by surprise at every turn.'&amp,nbsp,- Andrew Taylor'Tales of opera singers and murderers, of cobbled streets and Old Town tenements, of audacious women and what can befall them.&amp,nbsp,The writing is sublime, I loved every word.'&amp,nbsp,- Elissa Soave