The Sheffield Sagas Series

From the wreckage, they must piece together new lives for themselves... Determined not to waste his life toiling for his cruel brother, Silas, the second son of a farmer, arrives in town to seek his fortune. Harriet has reconciled herself to a life no better than domestic service for her austere uncle. And John Gunson, Chief Engineer at the Sheffield Waterworks Company, has just completed his crowning glory – the Dale Dyke dam. But one stormy night, the unthinkable happens. The dam bursts. A wall of water is unleashed, destroying everything in its path. The aftershocks of the flood reach far beyond that night, with consequences that could never have been foreseen. Fatefully brought together, Silas and Harriet must now contend with their families as new love blooms. Meanwhile, Gunson faces not only an angry community but also a court of inquest looking for a scapegoat. Can any good come from the disaster, and will justice be served for those who lost everything? A thrilling saga inspired by the real events of the Great Sheffield Flood, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Emma Hornby and Elisabeth McNeill. Praise for The Ragged Valley 'A powerful and absorbing story and an impressive debut. Her passion for the era and area in which she writes shines through. A 'dam' good read!' Emma Hornby 'A fabulous debut by a new saga author!' AnneMarie Brear 'Combines real people and fictional characters in a story both tragic and inspiring as Silas and Harriet overcome their brush with death.' Libby Ashworth 'Terrific characters - from endearing to dastardly - and an exciting storyline kept me turning the pages, eager to find out what happened next.' Lesley Eames 'The Ragged Valley delivers a captivating insight into a part of Sheffield history long forgotten. Silas and Harriet's relationship is tender and at times thwarted. An authentic story with motivating characters.' Sylvia Broady 'A gorgeous debut from new saga author Joanne Clague! Written with passion and attention to detail, Clague leaves no stone unturned, bringing to life the Great Sheffield Flood of 1864 and the people who lived through it. Hard choices, starting over, and family are at the heart of this novel, and a must read for saga fans.' Andie Newton, USA Today bestselling author of The Girls from the Beach ‘This is a total five stars for me. I'd never heard of the Sheffield flood before, but this novel brings it all to life. End of the book had me in tears. This is historical fiction at its best.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘I adored this book.These characters are so real that when the unthinkable happens… it's truly gut-wrenching. The Ragged Valley is the start of something epic.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘It had me hooked from the first page. The writing is gorgeous and the characters instantly come alive. It’s a wonderful romance with a lot of heart. A beautifully written book that I highly recommend for lovers of saga, romance or historical novels.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

A fallen woman. An opportunity for redemption. But at what cost? Sheffield, 1867. It’s the height of a long-running and violent campaign known as the Outrages, where murderous acts are carried out on behalf of a rogue union leader. Louisa Leigh, a former maid-of-all-work, is trapped into prostitution and desperate for money to escape. She befriends Ginny Hinchcliffe, a young widow who will do whatever it takes to break free from a life of servitude to her in-laws. The two women become entangled with Joe Crookes, henchman to the man responsible for the Outrages. Joe is looking for a way out even if that means betraying those closest to him. With a single act, Louisa’s freedom would be paid for. But it’s not just her life on the line, and she’ll need to decide if she can live with the choices she’s about to make… A sensationally compelling and gritty saga, for fans of Emma Hornby, Libby Ashworth and Kitty Neale. Praise for Joanne Clague ‘A powerful and absorbing story. Her passion for the era shines through.’ Emma Hornby ‘A fabulous new saga author!’ AnneMarie Brear ‘Combines real people and fictional characters in a story both tragic and inspiring.’ Libby Ashworth ‘Terrific characters and an exciting storyline kept me turning the pages, eager to find out what happened next.’ Lesley Eames ‘The Ragged Valley delivers a captivating insight into a part of Sheffield history long forgotten. An authentic story with motivating characters.’ Sylvia Broady ‘Written with passion and attention to detail, Clague leaves no stone unturned… a must read for saga fans.’ Andie Newton, USA Today bestselling author of The Girls from the Beach ‘A compelling story… The Girl at Change Alley is a must-read for all historical fiction readers.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘A fabulous book that draws you into the story from the very first chapter. The characters Louisa and Ginny were wonderful… you really wanted it to end well for them.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘This is a total five stars for me… historical fiction at its best.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘I adored this book. These characters are so real that when the unthinkable happens… it's truly gut-wrenching.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘It had me hooked from the first page. The writing is gorgeous and the characters instantly come alive. It’s a wonderful romance with a lot of heart. A beautifully written book that I highly recommend for lovers of saga, romance or historical novels.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

She isn’t looking for trouble – but trouble is coming to find her. Still grieving the death of her watchman husband in a terrorist attack during the Outrages, factory worker Rose is struggling to make ends meet when she encounters middle-class Annie, a newspaperman’s wife who devotes her time to lobbying for better working conditions. Rose is desperate to avoid making waves with three mouths to feed. But she can’t sit back and watch women and young girls continue to work in dangerous conditions, including her desperately sick lodger. Fearing for her daughter’s future and with her husband’s killer still on the loose, all Rose wants is justice.. Just how far is she prepared to go? An enthralling and emotional Victorian saga for fans of Kitty Neale, Libby Ashworth and Emma Hornby. Praise for The Watchman's Widow ‘Joanne Clague writes with such energy, wisdom, compassion and gentle humour, taking me right to the heart of her characters’ lives.’ Suzannah Dunn, author of The Testimony of Alys Twist ‘A great read and an enthralling story.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review ‘I loved the fact that there is a mixture of serious and more light-hearted moments. I look forward to the author’s next book.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review