‘This novel’s spell lingers long after it has been cast‘ Lucy Rose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lamb
‘Expect depravity, wickedness, and the shining light of female solidarity‘ Joanna Miller, bestselling author of The Eights
‘Lush, clever and packed with intrigue, this is a totally arresting novel with the heartbeat of a thriller‘ Alex Hay, author of The Housekeepers
On a remote island in the Hebrides sits a castle of gleaming red sandstone. By day, it is the picture of elegance. But when night falls, the servants are blindfolded, and a different story altogether starts to unfold . . .
When London showgirl Emerald is invited to spend a weekend on the island by a mysterious and wealthy Scottish bachelor, she accepts: life in the theatre means little can shock her.
Quickly, she is dazzled by her lavish surroundings – gilt-panelled ballrooms, hothouses filled with hummingbirds and orchids and no shortage of the finest Champagnes. Yet it is not long before Emerald – no stranger to secrets herself – realises things are not quite as they seem. Why are the doors sealed when the sun goes down? And are the rumours of a hushed-up scandal true?
But when Emerald starts to investigate exactly what is happening in the castle’s basement – in the so-called pleasure palace – what she eventually finds has the potential to unleash consequences that will echo down the generations. That is – unless she can find a way to stop it.
READERS LOVE EMMA COWING
‘You won’t be able to put an Emma Cowing book down’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Emma Cowing immerses you in fascinating, vanished worlds’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The best book I’ve read in years’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I cannot recommend her enough’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Just magnificent’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Expect depravity, wickedness, and the shining light of female solidarity‘ Joanna Miller, bestselling author of The Eights
‘Lush, clever and packed with intrigue, this is a totally arresting novel with the heartbeat of a thriller‘ Alex Hay, author of The Housekeepers
On a remote island in the Hebrides sits a castle of gleaming red sandstone. By day, it is the picture of elegance. But when night falls, the servants are blindfolded, and a different story altogether starts to unfold . . .
When London showgirl Emerald is invited to spend a weekend on the island by a mysterious and wealthy Scottish bachelor, she accepts: life in the theatre means little can shock her.
Quickly, she is dazzled by her lavish surroundings – gilt-panelled ballrooms, hothouses filled with hummingbirds and orchids and no shortage of the finest Champagnes. Yet it is not long before Emerald – no stranger to secrets herself – realises things are not quite as they seem. Why are the doors sealed when the sun goes down? And are the rumours of a hushed-up scandal true?
But when Emerald starts to investigate exactly what is happening in the castle’s basement – in the so-called pleasure palace – what she eventually finds has the potential to unleash consequences that will echo down the generations. That is – unless she can find a way to stop it.
READERS LOVE EMMA COWING
‘You won’t be able to put an Emma Cowing book down’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Emma Cowing immerses you in fascinating, vanished worlds’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The best book I’ve read in years’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I cannot recommend her enough’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Just magnificent’ Reader review,⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Reviews
'A sexy, clever page-turner'
'Cleverly drawn characters, a fascinating setting and a mystery at its heart that kept me one-more-chaptering until the early hours.'
'I loved this book! An immersive historical thriller that moves from the dazzle of London's theatre world to the dangerous solitude of a remote Scottish castle. The Pleasure Palace is a fast-paced, sexy thriller set in stunningly painted historical detail. Emma Cowing is a glorious storyteller with a wonderful talent for illuminating the Edwardian era and its women.'
'Lush, clever and packed with intrigue, this is a totally arresting novel with the heartbeat of a thriller - artfully plotted and gorgeously written, revealing its darkest secrets one layer at a time. Emma Cowing is a stunning writer - I loved this book.'
'Emma Cowing's prose is singular. The Pleasure Palace is elegant, thrilling and deeply compelling, and every page oozes with intrigue. This novel's spell lingers long after it has been cast.'
'Sarah Waters meets The Handmaid's Tale in a deliciously dark story packed with unexpected twists'
'Expect depravity, wickedness, and the shining light of female solidarity'
This gripped me from the first page. Blending high stakes mystery with a heartrending story of sisterhood, I was transported between the glittering high society of theatrical London in the early 1900s, to the struggle of Italian immigrant communities, to a remote Scottish castle with hidden rooms and dark secrets. Beneath the decadent and glamourous world of the rich upper classes lurks danger and unspeakable crimes, as our heroine Emerald Vane valiantly seeks truth, and justice.