From the bestselling author of Lady of Hay comes Whispers in the Sand, set in richly mysterious Egypt, where past and present collide.
Recently divorced Anna Fox decides to cheer herself up by retracing a journey her great grandmother Louisa made in the mid-nineteenth century – a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Anna carries with her two of Louisa’s possessions: an ancient Egyptian scent bottle and an illustrated diary of the original cruise that has lain unread for over a hundred years.
As she follows in Louisa’s footsteps, Anna discovers in the diary a wonderful Victorian love story – and the chilling secret of the little glass bottle. Meanwhile two men from the tour party develop an unfriendly rivalry for her attention, while showing a disturbing interest in Louisa’s mementoes. Most frightening of all, Anna finds herself the victim of a spectral presence that grows in strength and threat as the dramatic stories from three different eras intertwine in a terrifying climax.
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Erskine never loses sight of the fact that the reader must be thoroughly engaged by the problems she sets for her characters. Anna takes on her trip two of Louisa's possessions (the latter was a famous artist): an Egyptian scent bottle from the distant past and a beautifully illustrated diary of the original cruise that no one has read for over a century. We are allowed to be caught up in a fascinating love story from the Victorian era as Anna reads the diary, and more sinister relics of the past (such as the glass bottle) give an edge to the romantic intrigue. As Anna's journey progresses, other members of the party seem to be interested in the mementoes, and there is a rivalry between two men for her attention.
However, the most compelling strand to Erskine's tale is the sinister haunting that Anna finds herself the victim of, as a mysterious presence begins to exert a grip over her. Readers nowadays are used to narratives that take place simultaneously in both the past and the present (such as AS Byatt's Possession, for instance), but the device is handled with particular skill here. In fact, those who have enjoyed such Barbara Erskine books as On the Edge of Darkness will probably be surprised at the sophisticated enjoyment on offer here: this is her most ambitious book yet, and her sensuous scene-setting is first-rate:
Louisa set down her pen and stared out of the window at the dark river outside. She had pulled over the lavish shutters to allow the smell of it, the warmth of the night air, the occasional breath of chill wind from the desert to enter her cabin. It all captivated her. She listened carefully. Above, the stars were violent sparks against the blue-black sky. There was a slight movement behind her, and she turned...--Barry Forshaw
Praise for Barbara Erskine
The Warrior’s Princess:
‘An engrossing race against time’ Woman and Home
‘This is one of the most gripping page-turners I’ve read’ Sun
Barbara’s many bestsellers:
‘Her forte is mood, atmosphere and the toe-curling frisson’ Elizabeth Buchan, Sunday Times
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. Past and present collide on a richly mysterious Nile cruiseFrom the bestselling author of Lady of Hay comes this atmospheric and gripping page-turner. Recently divorced Anna Fox decides to cheer herself up by retracing a journey her great grandmother Louisa made in the mid-nineteenth century a Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan. Anna carries with her two of Louisas possessions: an ancient Egyptian scent bottle and an illustrated diary of the original cruise that has lain unread for over a hundred years.As she follows in Louisas footsteps, Anna discovers in the diary a wonderful Victorian love story and the chilling secret of the little glass bottle. Meanwhile two men from the tour party develop an unfriendly rivalry for her attention, while showing a disturbing interest in Louisas mementoes. Most frightening of all, Anna finds herself the victim of a spectral presence that grows in strength and threat as the dramatic stories from three different eras intertwine in a terrifying climax. Past and present collide on a richly mysterious Nile cruiseFrom the bestselling author of Lady of Hay comes this atmospheric and gripping page-turner. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780007288649
Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9780007288649
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Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. From the bestselling author of Lady of Hay comes Whispers in the Sand, set in richly mysterious Egypt, where past and present collide. Seller Inventory # B9780007288649
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Book Description Condition: New. From the bestselling author of Lady of Hay comes Whispers in the Sand, set in richly mysterious Egypt, where past and present collide. Num Pages: 592 pages, 1 map. BIC Classification: FA. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 131 x 197 x 28. Weight in Grams: 286. . 2009. Paperback. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Seller Inventory # V9780007288649