Overview

Her scandal. His revenge. The unforgettable new historical novel from award-winning author, Kate Foster. St Monans, Fife, Scotland 1790. Two women are forced to publicly repent in church, one for adultery the other for breaching the sabbath. Wealthy housewife, Florrie, and salt serf, Eliza, form a quick and unusual bond over their mutual humiliation. So when Florrie's husband decides she must accompany him on a trade venture to Iceland, she insists Eliza comes as her maid. Far from home, isolated and fearful, the two women grow ever closer. Then Florrie's husband reveals his sinister plan: he will leave her in Iceland, banished for the shame she has cast upon him. Florrie must escape, but when she turns to Eliza for help she realizes nothing is quite as it seems . . . Inspired by an attempt by Scottish merchants to annex Iceland as a remote prison for the British Empire, The Repentants is a chilling tale of betrayal, exile and survival from the Women's Prize long-listed author of The Maiden, Kate Foster. Praise for Kate Foster: 'Tense, thrilling . . . with a decidedly feminist slant' - Daily Mail 'Masterful . . . I literally didn't look up from the first page to the last' - Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal 'Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling. Foster transports the reader back in time, bringing alive the forgotten and hidden voices of women in the past' - D. V. Bishop, author of City of Vengeance

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9781035052103

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Reviews

Kate Foster is a rare and extraordinary talent. While bringing history to life, she can shock you, make you laugh, cry and gasp, but you never lose sight of the story or the important themes behind it. The Repentants is a remarkable tale that moves between Scotland and Iceland, on an emotional journey as wild as the waves between them. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece and Kate Foster’s best yet -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i> I loved it! Original, fascinating and hugely compelling, The Repentants leaves a taste of salt, sulphur and a lust for life against all odds that lingers long after the last page -- Hester Musson, bestselling author of <i>The Beholders</i> I raced through The Repentants, as the plot twisted and turned in unexpected ways. This tale of three very different women all battling to reclaim some agency over their fate has many modern parallels without ever losing sight of its historical setting. A most enjoyable read -- Sally Hinchcliffe, author of <i>Hare House</i> A gripping read. The lives of three very different women become entangled in the harsh Icelandic landscape. Each struggles to find agency in the 18th century world where men's needs are met, but their own must be fought for. Refreshingly different -- Sarah Maine, author of <i>The House Between Tides</i> Kate Foster can pluck a dark story from the depths of history and bring it to vivid life before your eyes. The Mourning Necklace is her best yet . . . Foster is a class act and an author who, if you haven't read her yet, what are you waiting for? -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i>, on <i>The Mourning Necklace</i> What a fabulous read . . . Kate excels at bringing the forgotten women of history back to life and giving them the attention they deserve -- Claire Evans, author of <i>The Fourteenth Letter</i>, on <i>The Mourning Necklace</i> Riveting . . . The tension persists until the last page -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>The Maiden</i> Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling . . . An utterly timely tale -- D.V. Bishop, award-winning author of <i>Ritual of Fire</i>, on <i>The King's Witches</i>

Kate Foster can pluck a dark story from the depths of history and bring it to vivid life before your eyes. The Mourning Necklace is her best yet . . . Foster is a class act and an author who, if you haven't read her yet, what are you waiting for? -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i>, on <i>The Mourning Necklace</i> What a fabulous read . . . Kate excels at bringing the forgotten women of history back to life and giving them the attention they deserve -- Claire Evans, author of <i>The Fourteenth Letter</i>, on <i>The Mourning Necklace</i> Riveting . . . The tension persists until the last page -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>The Maiden</i> Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling . . . An utterly timely tale -- D.V. Bishop, award-winning author of <i>Ritual of Fire</i>, on <i>The King's Witches</i>

Kate Foster is a rare and extraordinary talent. While bringing history to life, she can shock you, make you laugh, cry and gasp, but you never lose sight of the story or the important themes behind it. The Repentants is a remarkable tale that moves between Scotland and Iceland, on an emotional journey as wild as the waves between them. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece and Kate Foster’s best yet -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i> I loved it! Original, fascinating and hugely compelling, The Repentants leaves a taste of salt, sulphur and a lust for life against all odds that lingers long after the last page -- Hester Musson, bestselling author of <i>The Beholders</i> I raced through The Repentants, as the plot twisted and turned in unexpected ways. This tale of three very different women all battling to reclaim some agency over their fate has many modern parallels without ever losing sight of its historical setting. A most enjoyable read -- Sally Hinchcliffe, author of <i>Hare House</i> A gripping read. The lives of three very different women become entangled in the harsh Icelandic landscape. Each struggles to find agency in the 18th century world where men's needs are met, but their own must be fought for. Refreshingly different -- Sarah Maine, author of <i>The House Between Tides</i>

Kate Foster is a rare and extraordinary talent. While bringing history to life, she can shock you, make you laugh, cry and gasp, but you never lose sight of the story or the important themes behind it. The Repentants is a remarkable tale that moves between Scotland and Iceland, on an emotional journey as wild as the waves between them. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece and Kate Foster’s best yet -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i> A small town in in Fife, Scotland, and the unforgiving landscape of Iceland are the perfect settings for a devious tale of revenge, betrayal and survival, beautifully crafted by Foster * Daily Mail * I loved it! Original, fascinating and hugely compelling, The Repentants leaves a taste of salt, sulphur and a lust for life against all odds that lingers long after the last page -- Hester Musson, bestselling author of <i>The Beholders</i> I raced through The Repentants, as the plot twisted and turned in unexpected ways. This tale of three very different women all battling to reclaim some agency over their fate has many modern parallels without ever losing sight of its historical setting. A most enjoyable read -- Sally Hinchcliffe, author of <i>Hare House</i> A gripping read. The lives of three very different women become entangled in the harsh Icelandic landscape. Each struggles to find agency in the 18th century world where men's needs are met, but their own must be fought for. Refreshingly different -- Sarah Maine, author of <i>The House Between Tides</i> The Repentants will take you to the edge - to the remote wilds of Iceland and the remote wilds of a woman’s heart, both under siege by the men who wish to use them. A fight for survival that is witty, sharp and savage -- Cari Thomas, author of <i>Threadneedle</i> A gripping tale of three women's struggles to break free from a patriarchy that treats them as chattels of little value. The environment is bitter, but revenge can be both cold and sweet . . . Foster's best yet -- Alison Belsham, author of <i>The Girls on Chalk Hill</i> The Repentants is a compelling story of secrets, betrayals and triumphs, as three women battle to exert control over their own fates. A beautifully written, atmospheric page-turner of a novel -- Elizabeth Lee, author of <i>Cunning Women</i> A tense drama, full of twists and turns * Historical Novel Society * A chilling tale of betrayal, exile and survival * Platinum *

Kate Foster is a rare and extraordinary talent. While bringing history to life, she can shock you, make you laugh, cry and gasp, but you never lose sight of the story or the important themes behind it. The Repentants is a remarkable tale that moves between Scotland and Iceland, on an emotional journey as wild as the waves between them. It’s nothing short of a masterpiece and Kate Foster’s best yet -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i> I loved it! Original, fascinating and hugely compelling, The Repentants leaves a taste of salt, sulphur and a lust for life against all odds that lingers long after the last page -- Hester Musson, bestselling author of <i>The Beholders</i> I raced through The Repentants, as the plot twisted and turned in unexpected ways. This tale of three very different women all battling to reclaim some agency over their fate has many modern parallels without ever losing sight of its historical setting. A most enjoyable read -- Sally Hinchcliffe, author of <i>Hare House</i> A gripping read. The lives of three very different women become entangled in the harsh Icelandic landscape. Each struggles to find agency in the 18th century world where men's needs are met, but their own must be fought for. Refreshingly different -- Sarah Maine, author of <i>The House Between Tides</i> The Repentants will take you to the edge - to the remote wilds of Iceland and the remote wilds of a woman’s heart, both under siege by the men who wish to use them. A fight for survival that is witty, sharp and savage -- Cari Thomas, author of <i>Threadneedle</i> A gripping tale of three women's struggles to break free from a patriarchy that treats them as chattels of little value. The environment is bitter, but revenge can be both cold and sweet . . . Foster's best yet -- Alison Belsham, author of <i>The Girls on Chalk Hill</i> The Repentants is a compelling story of secrets, betrayals and triumphs, as three women battle to exert control over their own fates. A beautifully written, atmospheric page-turner of a novel -- Elizabeth Lee, author of <i>Cunning Women</i>

I loved it! Original, fascinating and hugely compelling, The Repentants leaves a taste of salt, sulphur and a lust for life against all odds that lingers long after the last page -- Hester Musson, bestselling author of <The Beholders</i> Kate Foster can pluck a dark story from the depths of history and bring it to vivid life before your eyes. The Mourning Necklace is her best yet . . . Foster is a class act and an author who, if you haven't read her yet, what are you waiting for? -- Janice Hallett, bestselling author of <i>The Appeal</i>, on <i>The Mourning Necklace</i> What a fabulous read . . . Kate excels at bringing the forgotten women of history back to life and giving them the attention they deserve -- Claire Evans, author of <i>The Fourteenth Letter</i>, on <i>The Mourning Necklace</i> Riveting . . . The tension persists until the last page -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>The Maiden</i> Enthralling, compelling and at times chilling . . . An utterly timely tale -- D.V. Bishop, award-winning author of <i>Ritual of Fire</i>, on <i>The King's Witches</i>

Author Information

Kate Foster has been a national newspaper journalist for over twenty years. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. Her previous novels include The Maiden, which won the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year in 2023 and was longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction in 2024, and The King's Witches. The Mourning Necklace is her third novel. She lives in Edinburgh with her two children.

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