'A superb trip back in time to 15th century Lindisfarne, which is evoked with a tremendous sense of place and engaging characters' S G MacLean

Lindisfarne in 1494 is a holy island of secrets.

The scribe Linnet is running from her criminal past and seeking sanctuary in the island of her childhood. She's friendless in the monastery, the monks resentful of a woman scribe, and her only company is Tom the fisherman and a child, Isabelle – watchful, clever and unlikeable – with her partly tamed raven Pol.

The monastery bursar Oswyn threatens to expose Linnet's past but she isn't the only one with secrets to hide. Intent upon uncovering the monks' misdeeds is the fanatic inspector, sent by the new Bishop of Durham to write a report on the monastery.

When Oswyn is found drowned, Linnet suspects the death is not accidental.

After another death, Linnet realises there's a killer amongst the brethren, and her own precarious position makes her vulnerable – unless she can first identify who it could be…



Cressida Downing is a freelance editor, has worked in bookshops and for publishers, and co-owns a business taking people on reading retreats. She lives near Cambridge and has planned 6 further novels in the series.