Emily Griffin, publishing director, Century Books
‘I’ve always loved the theatre and Victorian-set fiction, so the moment Lianne’s novel came into my inbox on submission I dropped to the Hutchinson Heinemann list 24 hours later. Zillah is an incredibly arresting lead character – you feel like you’re in a room hearing the story of her life first hand – and she is a heroine who feels as much of her own time as she does of ours. Though I’ve lived in London all my life Lianne brings to life the period setting in a way that made me see the city completely anew. The mystery running through makes it impossible to put down, but as an editor I’m drawn to books which have something important to say beneath the surface of the narrative too. Through Zillah’s story Lianne represents the Black population of Victorian London, bringing to life a side of the city which is so often overlooked in books, film and TV, and she explores race, class and gothic spectacle in a unique and thought-provoking way. I am very excited for readers to connect with Zillah and her world as I have.’
