{"title":"Lianne Dillsworth","description":"\u003cp\u003eDive into Lianne Dillsworth's captivating historical fiction, where vibrant characters and compelling narratives bring the past to life. Perfect for fans of Sarah Waters and Bernardine Evaristo. Browse her novels now!\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"theatre-of-marvels-book-lianne-dillsworth-9781529151459","title":"Theatre of Marvels","description":"'Richly evocative and glittering with atmosphere, this tale of ambition and identity had me gripped from start to finish' STACEY HALLS  _________________________________  Crowds gather at Crillick's Variety Theatre, where curiosity is satisfied with displays of intrigue and fear. They're here for the star of the show - the Great Amazonia warrior. They needn't know this warrior is in fact Zillah, a mixed-race actress from the East End fooling them each night with her thrilling performance.   But something is amiss, and when Crillick's new act goes missing Zillah feels compelled to investigate, knowing the fates that can befall women in Victorian London.  From the bustle of the West India Docks to the coffee houses of Fleet Street to the parlours of Mayfair, Zillah's journey for answers will find her caught between both sides of her own identity, and between two men: her wealthy white admirer, and an African merchant appalled by her act.  Will Zillah be forced to confront the price of her own performance? And in risking everything can she also save herself?  Featuring a defiant heroine for our times and a theatrical world of fragile dreams and ruthless ambition, THEATRE OF MARVELS shines a light on the experience of being Black and British in Victorian London through one woman's journey to live her life on her own terms. _______________________________  'A tale steeped in Victorian London, I fell in love with Zillah and her theatre world. I was gripped from the opening pages - highly recommended for anyone who loves mystery, drama and Victorian London.' 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Unruly crowds descend on Crillick's Variety Theatre. A black, British actress, Zillah, is headlining tonight. An orphan from the slums of St Giles, her rise to stardom is her ticket out - to be gawped and gazed at is a price she's willing to pay.  Rising up the echelons of society is everything Zillah has ever dreamed of. But when a new stage act disappears, Zillah is haunted by a feeling that something is amiss. Is the woman in danger?  Her pursuit of the truth takes her into the underbelly of the city - from gas-lit streets to the sumptuous parlours of Mayfair - as she seeks the help of notorious criminals from her past and finds herself torn between two powerful admirers.  Caught in a labyrinth of dangerous truths, will Zillah face ruin - or will she be the maker of her fate?  A deliciously immersive tale, Theatre of Marvels whisks you on an unforgettable journey across Victorian London in this bold exploration of race, class and gothic spectacle.  _______________________________  'Zillah is a memorable heroine' Sunday Times  'Exploitation and empowerment, race and class are all explored in this gripping historical novel. Dillsworth is a class act' Woman \u0026amp; Home  'A thought-provoking, atmospheric debut' Daily Express  'Very much enjoyed Theatre of Marvels. Zillah is a brilliant character who leads us through a Victorian London little spoken of, making for an illuminating, page-turning tale of self-actualisation. Loved it' KATE SAWYER  'A tale steeped in Victorian London, I fell in love with Zillah and her theatre world. I was gripped from the opening pages - highly recommended for anyone who loves mystery, drama and Victorian London' LOUISE HARE, author of This Lovely City  'A startling, original and utterly compelling novel which subtly navigates the core issues of race, gender and class' MARY CHAMBERLAIN, author of The Dressmaker of Dachau  'Thrilling, eye-opening and absorbing' LIZZIE POOK, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter  'Fresh, original and full of atmosphere - a compelling story with a heroine I'll remember for a long time' FRANCES QUINN, author of The Smallest Man  'A story that shines a spotlight into the shadows of the 19th century, while also exploring very relevant themes of identity. So fantastic to read a novel that centres POC in the Victorian era. Loved it!' SAARA EL-ARIFI, author of The Final Strife  'Loved Lianne Dillsworth's Theatre of Marvels. A gripping story about identity and belonging with a strong sense of place. Can't wait for everybody to meet Zillah who is such strong and nuanced heroine.' 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But it comes at a price. She must leave behind her husband and their canal-side home in Kings Cross and move to Tall Trees – a dark and foreboding house in Fitzrovia.  If Hester can cure the ailing health of its owner, Gervaise Cherville, she will receive payment that will bring her everything she could dream of.  But on arriving at Tall Trees, Hester quickly discovers that an even bigger task awaits her. Now she must unearth secrets that have lain hidden for decades – including one that will leave Hester’s own life forever changed… ___________________________  Praise for House of Shades:  'A wonderful, gothic mystery with the most engaging heroine in Hester Reeves. . . Lianne Dillsworth has woven a complex, moving story, asking questions which still resonate deeply today’ Elodie Harper  'Intensely moving, compulsively readable and beautifully written. Hester is a wonderful protagonist. I thoroughly enjoyed it' Rosie Andrews  'Gripping, heart-breaking and brilliantly told. Hester Reeves is fresh and relatable – I felt every twist and turn of her story and was rooting for her from the get-go' Lucy Barker  'I loved this original and compelling tale of intrigue, quest and retribution... one not to be missed' Mary Chamberlain  ‘A gripping Gothic tale that weaves a page-turning plot together with blazing social commentary and a protagonist, Hester, who leaps off the page' Louise Hare  'A cracking read and a deft (and timely) unpicking of complex questions around atonement and accountability. Wildly refreshing and full of heart' Hester Musson   Praise for Lianne Dillsworth:  'A fascinating, empowering story of a young woman's search for identity and justice in Victorian London' Jenifer Saint  'Dillsworth is a class act' Woman \u0026amp; Home  'Highly recommended for anyone who loves mystery, drama and Victorian London' Louise Hare  'Memorable' Sunday Times","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49545864511761,"sku":"GOR013755408","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ LIKE_NEW \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":49550466810129,"sku":"GOR013721550","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49747622887697,"sku":"NGR9781529152159","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52135661240593,"sku":"NLS9781529152159","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1529152151.jpg?v=1751212443"},{"product_id":"theatre-of-marvels-book-lianne-dillsworth-9780063271531","title":"Theatre of Marvels","description":"\u003cp\u003eA stunning and deliciously immersive debut that is a riveting journey across Victorian London and an unforgettable tale of race, identity and a woman's reclamation of her fate.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBehind the spectacle, there are always secrets.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnruly crowds descend on Crillick's Variety Theatre. 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Unruly crowds descend on Crillick's Variety Theatre. Young actress, Zillah, is headlining tonight. An orphan from the slums of St Giles, her rise to stardom is her ticket out - to be gawped and gazed at is a price she's willing to pay.  Rising up the echelons of society is everything Zillah has ever dreamed of. But when a new stage act disappears, Zillah is haunted by a feeling that something is amiss. Is the woman in danger?  Her pursuit of the truth takes her into the underbelly of the city - from gas-lit streets to the sumptuous parlours of Mayfair - as she seeks the help of notorious criminals from her past and finds herself torn between two powerful admirers.  Caught in a labyrinth of dangerous truths, will Zillah face ruin - or will she be the maker of her fate?  A deliciously immersive tale, Theatre of Marvels whisks you on an unforgettable journey across Victorian London in this bold exploration of gothic spectacle.  AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW _______________________________  'A tale steeped in Victorian London, I fell in love with Zillah and her theatre world. I was gripped from the opening pages - highly recommended for anyone who loves mystery, drama and Victorian London' LOUISE HARE, author of This Lovely City  'A startling, original and utterly compelling novel which subtly navigates the core issues of race, gender and class' MARY CHAMBERLAIN, author of The Dressmaker of Dachau  'Thrilling, eye-opening and absorbing' LIZZIE POOK, author of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter  'Fresh, original and full of atmosphere - a compelling story with a heroine I'll remember for a long time' FRANCES QUINN, author of The Smallest Man  'A story that shines a spotlight into the shadows of the 19th century, while also exploring very relevant themes of identity. So fantastic to read a novel that centres POC in the Victorian era. Loved it!' SAARA EL-ARIFI, author of The Final Strife  'Loved Lianne Dillsworth's Theatre of Marvels. A gripping story about identity and belonging with a strong sense of place. Can't wait for everybody to meet Zillah who is such strong and nuanced heroine.' LAURE VAN RENSBURG, author of Nobody But Us  'Zillah is a brilliant character who leads us through a Victorian London little spoken of, making for an illuminating, page-turning tale of self-actualisation. Loved it' KATE SAWYER, author of The Stranding  'Theatre of Marvels is a compelling, big-hearted story that whips the reader along, and I loved seeing Victorian London through the eyes of its strong female protagonist' ROSIE ANDREWS, author of The Leviathan","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":50491100135697,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":50491100823825,"sku":"GOR013969938","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1529151465.jpg?v=1751212442"},{"product_id":"house-of-shades-book-lianne-dillsworth-9781529160604","title":"House of Shades","description":"Some secrets are best left in the dark... A gothic mystery with an immersive setting and strong heroine at its heart _________________  London, 1833  Doctress Hester Reeves has been offered a life-changing commission.  But it comes at a price. She must leave behind her husband and their canal-side home in Kings Cross and move to Tall Trees – a dark and foreboding house in Fitzrovia.  If Hester can cure the ailing health of its owner, Gervaise Cherville, she will receive payment that will bring her everything she could dream of.  But on arriving at Tall Trees, Hester quickly discovers that an even bigger task awaits her. Now she must unearth secrets that have lain hidden for decades – including one that will leave Hester’s own life forever changed… ___________________________  Praise for House of Shades:  'A wonderful, gothic mystery with the most engaging heroine in Hester Reeves. . . Lianne Dillsworth has woven a complex, moving story, asking questions which still resonate deeply today’ Elodie Harper  'Intensely moving, compulsively readable and beautifully written. Hester is a wonderful protagonist. I thoroughly enjoyed it' Rosie Andrews  'Gripping, heart-breaking and brilliantly told. Hester Reeves is fresh and relatable – I felt every twist and turn of her story and was rooting for her from the get-go' Lucy Barker  'I loved this original and compelling tale of intrigue, quest and retribution... one not to be missed' Mary Chamberlain  ‘A gripping Gothic tale that weaves a page-turning plot together with blazing social commentary and a protagonist, Hester, who leaps off the page' Louise Hare  'A cracking read and a deft (and timely) unpicking of complex questions around atonement and accountability. 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