Killingly

Don't go into the woods, they told her.
But she knew better . . .

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'SARAH WATERS AND DONNA TARTT SQUAD, BUCKLE UP: Killingly is hitting the Plain Bad Heroines place in my heart again' Autostraddle

'Impressive' Sunday Times

'Gothic atmosphere, great period detail and a genuine shock at the end' Guardian

Killingly, 1897. The female students of Mount Holyoke - an elite university in a sleepy rural town - are famous for their beauty and charm. Except for plain, quiet Agnes and Bertha, who spend their time reading, writing and wandering the dark woods of Killingly, and do not seem interested in ballgowns or young men.

One autumn morning, Bertha vanishes - and the peaceful town of Killingly fractures into chaos. While a search team dredges the pond where she might have drowned, a private detective arrives in town and begins an investigation, discovering before long that this plain, quiet girl was keeping a terrible secret. The truth, if revealed, could put Agnes's life in mortal danger - and shatter the glittering reputation of Mount Holyoke forever...

A gothic, turn-of-the-century campus thriller about female desire, rage and ambition, perfect for fans of TRIFLERS NEED NOT APPLY, THE BINDING and FINGERSMITH . . .
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EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT KILLINGLY:

'A haunting story . . . will stay with me long after reading' ELIZABETH LEE, author of Cunning Women

'Completely engrossing. Unforgettable!' MARTHA CONWAY, author of The Physician's Daughter

'Beutner is masterful at depicting the intrigue and innuendo of a women's college. Perfect pacing . . . grows increasingly shocking as the pages turn' The Akron Beacon Journal