Circle of Shadows

Evie Winstanley, Book 1

By: Marisa Linton

Narrated by: Marisa Linton, Rose Robinson

Private detection is no profession for a woman of standing. Evie Winstanley doesn't care.

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, might very well be 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. Perfect for fans of Sarah Painter, Michelle Paver, and Laura Shepherd-Robinson.

©2025 Marisa Linton (P)2025 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critic reviews

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)