Just a short break from all the Christmassy reviews this morning, because I really wanted to help reveal the cover of a book I’m so looking forward to! Estella’s Revenge by Barbara Havelocke will be published by Hera Books as an e-book on all major platforms and in hardcover on 9th May 2024, and is now available for pre-order – the paperback will follow in October 2024.
Now that name might not be immediately familiar to you, but you’ll certainly know her alter ego, Barbara Copperthwaite. Her thrillers have always been quite wonderful – if you pop her name into my search bar, you’ll find reviews of them all, ever since I read Flowers for the Dead way back in 2015 and knew I’d discovered a very special author. Over the years, through everything life’s thrown at us both, Barbara’s also become a really valued friend – and, although I’ve moved on to become a fan of romance and historical fiction, I’ve continued to read and enjoy her thrillers, eagerly awaited by so many more readers since she joined Bookouture back in 2017.
But this book, along with her new name, is a real departure – gothic historical fiction, and I haven’t been so excited about a book in a very long time. Let’s take a closer look…
You know Miss Havisham.
The world’s most famous jilted bride.
This is her daughter’s story.
Raised in the darkness of Satis House where the clocks never tick, the beautiful Estella is bred to hate men and to keep her heart cold as the grave.
She knows she doesn’t feel things quite like other people do but is this just the result of her strange upbringing?
As she watches the brutal treatment of women around her, hatred hardens into a core of vengeance and when she finds herself married to the abusive Drummle, she is forced to make a deadly choice:
Should she embrace the darkness within her and exact her revenge?
A stunningly original, gripping Gothic read, perfect for fans of Stacey Halls, Madeline Miller and Jessie Burton.
I think the cover’s absolutely gorgeous – this is one I’ll be buying in hardcover – and I hope you’re looking forward to reading this one as much as I am. And will I be sharing a review in May? But of course…!
About the author
Barbara is an international bestselling author (writing as Barbara Copperthwaite), whose psychological thrillers have topped Amazon and Kobo. Her writing career started in journalism, interviewing the real victims of crime – and the perpetrators. As a result she developed a deep understanding of the flaws and strengths of human nature; and the realistic, complex characters who populate her fiction reflect this. Now she brings that skill to gothic historical fiction, as well as her passion for the past. When not writing, Barbara is found walking her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy, or taking photos of wildlife.
Website (going live today – you’ll find her Barbara Copperthwaite website here) | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky
The cover is just beautiful. I love Barbara’s writing and can’t wait for this! x
Thank you so much for taking part in the cover reveal, and being such an absolute star! x