Synopsis
When well-to-do Hester learns of her sister Mercy's death at a Nottinghamshire workhouse, she travels to Southwell to find out how her sister ended up at such a place.
Haunted by her sister's ghost, Hester sets out to uncover the truth, when the official story reported by the workhouse master proves to be untrue. Mercy was pregnant - both her and the baby are said to be dead of cholera, but the workhouse hasn't had an outbreak for years.
Hester discovers a strange trend in the workhouse of children going missing. One woman tells her about the Pale Lady, a ghostly figure that steals babies in the night. Is this lady a myth or is something more sinister afoot at the Southwell poorhouse?
As Hester investigates, she uncovers a conspiracy, one that someone is determined to keep a secret, no matter the cost...
Publisher information
- Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
- ISBN: 9781409192213
- Number of pages: 320
- Dimensions: 236 x 162 x 34 mm
- Weight: 540g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View all
Enthralling!
Hester and her Quaker family in Bristol discover that Hester's sister, Mercy has died whilst living at the Workhouse in Southwell, Nottinghamshire. Hester... READ MORE
Interesting and atmospheric
really enjoyed this book. The story was well told, with the detail leading to a gradual unfolding of the truth. I became fond of the heroine (Hester) and w... READ MORE
Intriguing
THE SHADOWING
This is a delightfully written novel encompassing the supernatural, history and romance. The themes within the book are cleverly interwov... READ MORE
A gothic thriller
The Shadowing book title refers to Hester and the ghosts she has seen since childhood, something she can’t talk about as it angers her father, going agains... READ MORE
A beautifully written tale
The Shadowing
Set in the 1830’s The Shadowing is a story about Hester seeking out the truth about her sisters death at a Nottinghamshire workhouse. This s... READ MORE
Dark, twisted and mysterious
The Shadowing by Rhiannon Ward
I was drawn to this book by its storyline, set in Victorian England it tells Hester seeks out the truth about her sister’s ... READ MORE
A historical tale that felt fresh
The Shadowing has a very interesting and appealing (for the reader, at least) setting. Hester travels from her home in Bristol to Southwell in Nottinghamsh... READ MORE
An enjoyable page turner.
I very much enjoyed reading The Shadowing. I really enjoyed the historical element reading about the workhouse and the Quakers and found that to be very in... READ MORE
What's going on in the workhouse?
A dark story of a missing sister and her baby. The story uncovers what's happening in Southwell and you'll be surprised who is involved and all the secrets... READ MORE
Quite good
A Quaker family are shocked to discover that the daughter they thought had run off to be married has died in a workhouse in Nottinghamshire, from an outbre... READ MORE
Gothic Suspense
Oh my word! What a great book, grabs your attention from the start. A real page turner.
Hester is a Quaker Friend who after the death of her father trav... READ MORE
Dark and mysterious
I found the historical aspects in this story really interesting and this, along with the supernatural content, made for an excellent read. The storyline is... READ MORE
Gothic thriller
Having read and enjoyed the authors previous books I was eagerly looking forward to reading The Shadowing and it doesn’t disappoint.
What you have is a hi... READ MORE
An enjoyable gothic, historical mystery!
The Shadowing by Rhiannon Ward is part gothic, part historical mystery filled with intrigue and suspense.
It’s an easy read and succinctly written with a... READ MORE
Gripping, gothic and ghostly
Hester travels to a workhouse to find out why her sister Mercy died there and discovers strange stories about new born babies being taken by a Pale Lady. H... READ MORE
A dark, mysterious page-turner
Hester, raised in a Quaker family in Bristol, travels to Nottingham determined to find out the circumstances surrounding her sister Mercy’s death in Southw... READ MORE
A compelling read
This book told the tale through the eyes of Hester, a daughter in a family of Quakers. Hester’s mother, Ruth, sent her daughter to Southwell to investigat... READ MORE
Gripping, gothic and ghostly
Hester travels to a workhouse to find out why her sister Mercy died there and discovers strange stories about new born babies being taken by a Pale Lady. H... READ MORE
Chilling, raw and atmospheric
Hester is the daughter of bullying, controlling father, Amos and Ruth her mother who on receipt of a letter informing them of the death of runaway daughter... READ MORE
Compelling mysterious page-turner
This is an enthralling combination of genres, crossing historical fiction with mystery, suspense, some paranormal activity, and a touch of romance. I enjoy... READ MORE
Really good
The Shadowing by Rhiannon Ward
This was a really good read , so good I read in three days.
Hester who has quite a good life finds out her sister has died... READ MORE
A haunting gothic mystery
"The shadowing had returned."
The Shadowing is an atmospheric and absorbing historical gothic mystery overflowing with menace. A story laced with secrets... READ MORE
Haunting
Although this is historical fiction, and not my usual genre, I was intrigued from the start. Hester, one of the main characters is a Quaker who has vision... READ MORE
An intriguing read
This is not my usual genre of book at all but once I started reading it I was hooked. This story is about Hester who lives life as part of a Quaker family... READ MORE
Search for the truth
I wanted to keep reading to know if Hester would find out the truth about what happened to her sister and her baby. I liked the family theme which ran thro... READ MORE
A fascinating and enjoyable story
Hester has been brought up as a strict Quaker and her ability to see spirits is frowned upon by her family. Hester travels north to try to find out what ha... READ MORE
Historical Fictional with a dark subject
Historical fiction with a dark subject. Hester shows true grit not giving up to find out the truth even though a woman's place in society made it difficult... READ MORE
A great atmospheric read.
The Shadowing is a brilliant account of Hester's journey to find out more about the death of her sister. The historical element was fantastically written a... READ MORE
Excellent historical mystery
Having greatly enjoyed the author’s first novel, The Quickening, I was eager to read Rhiannon Ward’s next book, The Shadowing. The Shadowing is a historic... READ MORE