House with Nine Locks by Philip Gray

1950s Flanders- A master forger transforms a young woman’s life, but will the price be too high? Combining the cinematic allure of The Queen’s Gambit with the seductive intrigue of Jessie Burton’s The Muse, The House with Nine Locks is a compelling and sweeping historical novel with characters you won’t soon forget.

A master forger. A hidden fortune. A dangerous game of cat and mouse…

In post-war Flanders, Adelais de Wolf’s family is slowly, inexplicably, falling apart- her mother evermore lost to religious devotion, her father to alcohol. But with the death of a beloved uncle, Adelais finds herself in receipt of an unexpected legacy- a shuttered house in a rundown district and its contents – contents that hold the promise of independence and wealth. All that is required is application, nerve, and a willingness to break the law.

Adelais stifles her doubts and her fortunes are transformed. But with her rise comes complications- her victimless crimes may not be as victimless as she supposed. Nor has she counted on the singular fanaticism of Major de Smet of the Federal Gendarmerie, a brutal detective who never forgives and never forgets.

Embroiled in a game that has gone on too long, will Adelais find the cost of her fortunes too high?

About the Author: Philip Gray studied modern history at Cambridge University, and went on to work as a journalist in Madrid, Rome and Lisbon. He has tutored in crime writing at City University in London and serves as a director at an award-winning documentary film company, specialising in science and history.

He lives in London.

https-//www.philipgraybooks.com/

23 Jan 2025
 

The House with Nine Locks by Philip Gray ISBN 9781787304437