"I first saw the extraordinary woman called Marian Cotton on a train.

That crucial meeting led directly to a time when I was healed and she was struck down."

What an opening! How could I not read on?

Victoria was born with a damaged foot and a disfigured face and her parents hid her away in her room until they hit upon an even better way of keeping her out of sight. They sent her to the north of England to live with her uncle and his family and so she met Marian Cotton and her life was transformed.

The novel is based on real events that took place in the early 1870s and which led to the hanging of Mary Ann Cotton for murder. A fictionalised account but it might very easily have been the truth, for whereas much has been written, both at the time and since, Wendy could not find any conclusive evidence. Was Mary Ann guilty of murder or was she wrongfully condemned? Wendy brilliantly explores the situation.

Mary Ann's misfortune was that she was strong-minded, forceful, ahead of her time, a woman who did not live by the rules of her village.

As a result the women were against her, malicious gossip spread until she had few friends left.

The reader is transported into the way of life of 130 years ago and cannot fail to have sympathy and understanding for this woman who helped so many, nursing the sick no one else would tend, but not pity.

Mary Ann was proud and would not have welcomed pity.

An exceptional book. This is very different from Wendy's earlier novels but nevertheless portrays the same depth of characterisation and accurate historical detail.