'The Conviction of Cora Burns is a striking debut. Rich in gothic darkness and period detail, the brutality of Victorian Britain is exquisitely drawn. A beautifully-written story which enveloped me from first page to last' - Amanda Jennings, author of Cliff House and In Her Wake

'Downton Abbey meets Elizabeth Gaskell' - GJ Minett, author of Lie In Wait, The Hidden Legacy and Anything For Her '

An intriguing story of loss, doubleness, and sinister scientific experiment. Carolyn Kirby conjures up the nineteenth-century in a way that will surely satisfy all devotees of “Vic-lit”' - Gaynor Arnold, author of Girl In A Blue Dress 

'In a novel that deftly illustrates so many social horrors, Kirby delivers a complicated picture of Cora that defies easy Characterization ... The suspicion and risk that permeate Cora’s few choices reveal the disproportionate power accorded to the wealthy and to men, even when their deeds display wanton inhumanity' - Letitia Montgomery-Rodgers, Foreword Magazine 

'A fascinating and evocative journey through the heartbreaking secrets of Cora's past, and a memorable exploration of nature versus nurture' - Rachael Edwards, author of Darling 

'Kirby's talent shines through her deft prose...I think this is a fantastic novel from an incredibly exciting new voice. I think fans of Sarah Waters would love this bold debut' - Emily Elgar, author of If You Knew Her

'An assured debut - atmospheric, dark and emotive. The story is sure to stay with readers long after turning the final page' - Sam Carrington

'Carolyn Kirby creates an unforgettable character in the spirited and fascinating Cora Burns. The voice transports us to the world of late nineteenth century Birmingham and we are drawn into Cora's dark mystery from the first page. A truly haunting and original début' - Jacqui Lofthouse, author of 'Bluethroat Morning' and 'The Modigliani Girl'

'A poignant reflection on the possibility of personal redemption and the potential within each person and society, to recognize and cherish human dignity and shed the injustices of the past' - Alice Hatcher author of The Wonder That Was Ours

'Carolyn Kirby is a born storyteller - a Charles Dickens for the 21st century' - Jay Neugeboren, Author of Imagining Robert and The Stolen Jew

'Carolyn Kirby’s unforgettable debut is a painstaking, kaleidoscopic, deeply unsettling, deeply thrilling, expansive, provocatively masterful novel' - Charles Blackstone, author of Vintage Attraction

'Kirby’s superb psychological thriller just about garrotes you in suspense. Is violence a product of nature or nurture? Can we shape who we are, and once shaped, can we ever change?' - Caroline Leavitt, author of Pictures of You and Is This Tomorrow

'A gripping historical thriller with a compelling protagonist. I loved the period detail and can't wait to read more from Carolyn Kirby' - Sarah Ward, Author of the DC Childs novels