The Ninth Stone by Kylie Fitzpatrick
Amen Corner, London, 1864. Orphan Sarah O'Reilly has disguised herself as a boy so that she can work in the offices of Septimus Harding's newspaper, the London Mercury. She meets Lily Korechnya, a wealthy widow who writes a column for the paper under a pseudonym. Lily has been enlisted by Lady Cynthia Herbert to help catalogue her magnificent jewel collection. She is especially struck by several large gems that belong to the Maharaja of Benares, which Lady Herbert has promised to have made into a special charm. The gems include a fiery red diamond that seems to exert an unsettling influence over anyone who touches it. Then two gruesome murders take place -- first a customs officer at the docks and next a jeweller in Hatton Gardens, both of whom were strangled in an unusual, distinct way. A local simpleton, Holy Joe, is blamed for the murders but neither Lily or Sara are convinced the police have the right man. The trail of the missing gems leads them back to India, to ghosts, and the dangerous cult of the destroyer goddess Kali.
"a very entertaining romp through a world of muckraking journalism, child labour and deadly cults.. very enjoyable - perfect for curling up with on a miserable February day." THE GLOSS "excels in presenting complex ideas such as fatalism and human frailty in the face of fear and desire" DAILY TELEGRAPH "Fitzpatrick's eye for the details of the Victorian empire in commendable" THE BIG ISSUE "an entertaining weaving of intrigue and rags and riches with some strong lead characters" PRESS ASSOCIATION
Kylie Fitzpatrick was born in Denmark and grew up in England, America and Australia. She has worked as an actress, as a researcher for documentary films and as a freelance script editor. She lives in Somerset with her partner and young daughter.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780297852766 |
| ISBN 10 | 0297852760 |
| Title | The Ninth Stone |
| Author | Kylie Fitzpatrick |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Orion Publishing Co |
| Year published | 2008-01-10 |
| Number of pages | 352 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |