London, 1838: the controversial practice of Mesmerism, with its genuine practitioners and its fraudulent chancers, has hypnotised the city. Miss Cordelia Preston, a beautiful, ageing, out-of-work actress terrified of returning to the poverty of her childhood, suddenly emerges as a Lady Phreno-Mesmerist. But success is fragile when you have a past filled with secrets. Cordelia’s past is revealed, bringing not only heartache but terror – and the mystery of a cloaked figure who waits for her in the shadowy London streets. As Joan Allard mentioned in her 5-star review (nb46), this book provides a wealth of topics for a book group discussion.

check out an extract from The Mesmerist taken from newbooks 48