Helen Steadman's newest novel is a departure for the writer. Her first two books followed the same group of characters and focused on the 1650 Newcastle witch trials and their aftermath. With The Running Wolf Steadman continues to explore the history of the North East of England in the Seventeenth century but in this book the focus is on a group of Prussian sword makers who establish a community in Shotley Bridge in the 1690s and one family in particular; The Mohlls. The story focuses on their difficulties in adapting to life in a new land, dealing with prejudice and suspicion and struggling with a new language while also missing their old way of life.
The story is told using two narrative strands the first beginning in 1693 and the second in 1703; one deals with the family's arrival in England and their struggle to adjust and the other is told through the eyes of a guard at Morpeth gaol were Hermann Mohll is being held after trying to smuggle swords into the country as the gaoler tries to work out what led him to that point. Helen Steadman is a masterful storyteller with a wonderful ability to bring the past and in particular, the characters of the past to life. The Running Wolf is an intriguing look at a time of great upheaval as the 17th Century came to an end.
Thanks to Love Books Group and Impress Books for the chance to take part in this blog tour. The Running Wolf will be released on December 1st.
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