The Vanished Days

A sweeping love story set against the Jacobite revolution from much-loved, million copy bestselling author Susanna Kearsley There are many who believe they know what happened, but they do not know the whole of it. The rumours spread, and grow, and take their hold, and so to end them I have been persuaded now to take my pen in hand and tell the story as it should be told Autumn, 1707. Old enemies from the Highlands to the Borders are finding common ground as they join to protest the new Union with England, the French are preparing to launch an invasion to carry the young exiled Jacobite king back to Scotland to reclaim his throne, and in Edinburgh the streets are filled with discontent and danger. Queen Annes commissioners, seeking to calm the situation, have begun settling the losses and wages owed to those Scots who took part in the disastrous Darien expedition eight years earlier. When Lily, the young widow of a Darien sailor, comes forward to collect her husbands wages, her claim is challenged, and one of the men whos assigned to examine her has only days to decide if shes honest, or if his own feelings are making him blind to the truth, and if hes being used as a pawn in an even more treacherous game. A story of intrigue, adventure, endurance, romanceand the courage to hope. 'A hugely engrossing book and a complete world created' Ian Rankin Praise for Susanna Kearsley's books: A thrilling, haunting and deeply romantic story powerfully told by an engaging heroineenchanting and beautifully evoked. RACHEL HORE 'I've loved every one of her books! She has bedrock research and a butterfly's delicate touch with characterssure recipe for historical fiction that sucks you in and won't let go!' DIANA GABALDON, bestselling author of Outlander A deeply-engaging romance and a compelling historical novel... a marvellous book. BERNARD CORNWELL