Circle of Shadows

Book cover for "Circle of Shadows" by Marisa Linton, featuring a dark blue background with a gold ornate border, large white text, and illustrations of leaves, flowers, and moons.

Circle of Shadows is a suspenseful, gothic historical fantasy following Evie Winstanley, a young woman hell-bent on investigating her father's death . . . and exposing the dangerous men and perilous magic behind it. But dark forces are ranged against her, and the Circle of Shadows is closing in . . .

Out now from Hodderscape, ISBN ‎ 9781399740180

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It’s 1904, and private detection is no profession for a woman. But that won’t stop Evie Winstanley.

When Evie's father, a collector of occult books, dies in suspicious circumstances, she decides to uncover the truth. Her only clue is a mysterious reference to the 'circle of shadows.' Her investigation takes her from a séance in a manor house on the Yorkshire moors to a sinister cult hidden amongst the elite of an Oxford University college . . . and all the while, she is haunted by whispers of an ancient monster, and an ominous, ever-changing symbol.

When the body of a young woman is discovered floating in the Cherwell, marked with the same occult symbol, Evie realises that her investigation is far bigger than one death - and that her own life, and the lives of those she loves, are in danger . . .

Blending historical fantasy with Golden Age classic crime, Circle of Shadows is a dark and twisty adventure through an occult Edwardian England where wealthy boys toy with powers they don't understand, and women are forced to pick up the pieces.

The Magician tarot card shows a person dressed in a red robe with an infinity symbol above their head, holding a wand in their right hand pointed upward. Their left hand points downward. There is a table in front of them with a chalice, a sword, a pentacle, and a wand. Flowers and white doves are at their feet, symbolizing harmony and balance.

  • “Circle of Shadows is everything I want from dark academia – the cruelty and capriciousness of the elite; a tangled web of secret histories and utterly immersive occult folklore; and all the cleverness of a Golden Age detective story set in Edwardian England. Absolutely brilliant.”

    – Susan J. Morris, author of Strange Beasts

  • “I absolutely LOVED Circle of Shadows . . . it compellingly blends the evils of deep dark places with those of high society, building mystery and dread to a breathless conclusion. I was utterly entranced! I absolutely devoured this book—it was exactly the sort of thing I love, with creepy moody vibes combined with great characters and smart plot twists.”

    – Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage

     

  • “I was totally gripped from the very first page of this novel of occult mysteries, dangerous deceptions, and daring investigations. It’s a hugely enjoyable mix of golden age crime and supernatural mystery, with a heroine you can really root for, and fantastically atmospheric settings from Yorkshire to Oxford. I can’t wait to read more of Evie’s adventures into the dark corners of Edwardian England.”

    – Sarah Brooks, author of The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wastelands

  • “I loved Marisa Linton's Circle of Shadows, the first adventure of Evie Winstanley, Occult Consulting Detective. I hope there are lots more to come.”

    – Greg Mosse, author of The Coming Darkness trilogy and The Maisie Cooper Mysteries

  • “A dark and twisty tale full of corrupt magic and even corrupter hearts, but also a stirring story about standing up to evil. A must-read for anyone who likes their academia dark!”

    – Julia Golding, author of The Persephone Code

  • “I was completely enthralled by this deliciously dark and haunting historical mystery, with a smart and spirited heroine I’d love to see more of.”

    – Frances Quinn, author of The Lost Passenger

  • “I enjoyed this a great deal. I love the creepy, macabre tone of it all, flecked with Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle and John Buchan. Evie is a wonderful creation!”

    – J.S. Barnes, author of Dracula’s Child

  • “Equal parts moving, thrilling, and thought-provoking, Circle of Shadows is an evocative journey of high imagination and unrivalled craft.”

    – David Green, Secretary of the British Fantasy Society

  • “Marisa Linton takes the Golden Age detective tale and gives it a speculative twist. Moving between Edwardian London, a sinister Yorkshire manor house, and the academic halls of Oxford, The Circle of Shadows keeps the reader guessing to the end. I look forward to more from this author and her engaging heroine.”

    – Anne Corlett, author of The Theatre of Glass and Shadows