THE GOLDEN HOUR
OUT 22/2/24 PRE-ORDER HERE!
“A sumptuous evocative triumph of a novel! I was completely swept away”
– JENNY ASHCROFT
UK hardback
In the genteel squares of late-Victorian Brighton, Ellen and Reynold Harper – twins, companions, colleagues – ply their trade as portrait photographers.
But at the golden hour, the models arrive to pose for the lucrative – and illicit – photographs that really keep the Harpers' business afloat. This is the other, shadowy world of the city: a world of erotic tableaux, boundary-crossing music hall performers, and the sinister figure of the local gangster, the Croc.
When Ellen is drawn into the orbit of unhappy newly-wed Clementine, she finds herself torn between loyalty to her brother, her dangerous attraction to new model, Lily, and her burgeoning friendship with Clem. And as the two worlds of Brighton collide, the three women discover that there is only a knife edge between the promise of freedom, and the threat of ruin . . .
Atmospheric, sensual and powerfully moving, The Golden Hour is a spellbinding portrait of three women determined to find their freedom - perfect for fans of Sarah Waters, The Doll Factory and The Essex Serpent.
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PRAISE FOR THE GOLDEN HOUR
“What a sumptuous, evocative triumph of a novel The Golden Hour is. I was completely swept away by the stories of these three incredible women - I truly couldn’t put it down!”
“Luminous … sensitive and moving. Jacquie Bloese brings the period and characters vividly to life”
“A divine and sumptuous portrait of Victorian Brighton, written in gloriously seductive prose”
“A gutsy tale that is sure to please!”
“A compelling Sapphic novel in which subjugated women defy society’s expectations. Atmospheric, dark, and daring”
“A captivating panorama of late-Victorian Brighton, where beauty and seediness coexist. All the characters are vividly drawn and the writing is beautifully atmospheric”
“Compelling and beautifully drawn characters, an intriguing setting and tons of atmosphere – I loved this book”
“A passionate, enthralling and historically rich book. Hard to put down”