A truly enchanting book from it's enticing cover and illustrations to the intriguing back cover blurb. The Story Collector is the tale of two young women in two different eras. Anna a young Irish girl in Thornwood Village, Co Clare, in 1910 is just eighteen and desperate for adventure which comes in the form of an American scholar; Harold, who seeks her help in translating Irish folktales from the local people. One hundred years later Sarah Harper makes a snap decision to travel to Ireland for the Christmas holiday and finds herself walking in the footsteps of Anna and Harold and desperate to learn about the local myths and legends. Full of references to the 'good people' or fairy folk this is a wonderful historical mystery layered with romance. Evie Gaughan's third novel is assured and deft. Her skills as a storyteller are in evidence on each page and I was loathe to close the book and leave the characters, the atmosphere and the sense of place that the author had created behind. This is definitely a book you will want to read in one or two sittings but which will linger long after the last page is turned.
Available now from Urbane Books (who kindly sent me a copy) in paperback and e-book.
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