Embalmer's Recipe Book

Book excerpt: People, flowers, memories: how do we preserve the past? Set in the Lake District, the shifting mosaic of the narrative explores life, love and prejudice through three very different women: Ruth, a taxidermist; Madeleine, a widowed sheep-farmer; and Lisa, a mathematician. As Lisa is drawn into the group it becomes clear that the other women have strange secrets: Ruth's 'blogs' have an increasingly dark undertone - but these stark themes are offset by the warmth and humour of the rural community to which the women are bound. 'A charming, intelligent and engrossing book, with enough dark heart to drag it away from the domain of standard female fiction fare and into much more engaging territory. I found myself drawn in by the delicate prose and fascinating descriptions an engrossing and enjoyable read.' Kat Arney'A powerful and haunting story An exhilarating and compelling read.' Professor Sir John Sulston, Nobel Laureate'An intriguing novel in a haunting setting, rich in texture, humorous and concerned, raising important questions about science and our relation to the natural world, to the individuals we know and to the communities we live in. A lovely book.' Jenny Uglow 'A rich, absorbing, intriguing novel ... All of (the characters) felt like real people, whom I would want to know ... an absorbing, clever writer ...' Oxford Times