Lesley McDowell – författare

**The spellbinding, bold new retelling of the story of Lord Byron and the Shelleys, from the perspective of Claire Clairmont, the incredible woman that history tried to forget.**'Beautifully written, Clairmont tells the sensuous hidden story of an influential historic woman.' Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year'An absorbing, intoxicating page-turner about a woman who deserves to be remembered.' Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne and Atalanta'Riveting - a clever portrait of a fascinating, flawed heroine.' Sunday Times'An intimate and enlightening tale of one of Romanticism's forsaken muses - an artfully told story that lingers in the mind far beyond the last page' Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora1816. A massive volcanic eruption has caused the worst storms that Europe has seen in decades, yet Percy and Mary Shelley have chosen to visit the infamous Lord Byron at his villa on Lake Geneva. It wasn't their idea: Mary's eighteen year old step-sister, Claire Clairmont, insisted. But the reason for Claire's visit is more pressing than a summer escape with the most famous writers in the world. She's pregnant with Byron's child - a child Byron doesn't want, and scarcely believes is his own.Claire has the world in her grasp. This trip should have given her everything she ever dreamed of. But within days, her life will be in ruins.History has all but forgotten her story - but she will not be silenced.

'A fascinating, forensic deep-dive' DENISE MINA'Beautifully written, richly evoked and utterly gripping' EVA DOLAN 'A seductive tale of sex and death' SARA SHERIDAN***1857, Glasgow.A young socialite named Madeleine Smith stands accused of murdering her lover. Thousands wait outside the court to hear the result. The scandalous nature of the affair, detailed explicitly in letters published in newspapers across the world, has made her case a worldwide sensation. But when the jury find themselves unable to decide whether she is guilty, they render a verdict of 'Not Proven' - and Madeleine is freed.1927, New York.Harry Townsend, a handsome Hollywood film scout believes he has found the woman once known as Madeleine Smith. He wants to tell her story on film for the new 'talkie' generation. Since her trial she has lived under many names, as a glamourous society hostess in bohemian Bloomsbury to the likes of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, George Bernard Shaw and William Morris. Until suddenly, in 1890, when she disappeared off the face of the earth.Could this quiet, secretive widow of an Irish labourer be the same Madeleine Smith who once stood trial for murder and escaped?She has one last secret to reveal. Will Harry persuade her to tell it?***More praise for Lesley McDowell:'Riveting - a clever portrait of a fascinating, flawed heroine.' THE TIMES'An intimate and enlightening tale of one of Romanticism's forsaken muses.' SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN'An absorbing, intoxicating page-turner about a woman who deserves to be remembered.' JENNIFER SAINT'A must-read. McDowell brings to vivid, embodied life; a flirtatious, flawed woman fighting for her place in a man's world.' THE HERALD

'A fascinating, forensic deep-dive' DENISE MINA'Beautifully written, richly evoked and utterly gripping' EVA DOLAN 'A seductive tale of sex and death' SARA SHERIDAN***1857, Glasgow.A young socialite named Madeleine Smith stands accused of murdering her lover. Thousands wait outside the court to hear the result. The scandalous nature of the affair, detailed explicitly in letters published in newspapers across the world, has made her case a worldwide sensation. But when the jury find themselves unable to decide whether she is guilty, they render a verdict of 'Not Proven' - and Madeleine is freed.1927, New York.Harry Townsend, a handsome Hollywood film scout believes he has found the woman once known as Madeleine Smith. He wants to tell her story on film for the new 'talkie' generation. Since her trial she has lived under many names, as a glamourous society hostess in bohemian Bloomsbury to the likes of Dante Gabriel Rossetti, George Bernard Shaw and William Morris. Until suddenly, in 1890, when she disappeared off the face of the earth.Could this quiet, secretive widow of an Irish labourer be the same Madeleine Smith who once stood trial for murder and escaped?She has one last secret to reveal. Will Harry persuade her to tell it?***More praise for Lesley McDowell:'Riveting - a clever portrait of a fascinating, flawed heroine.' THE TIMES'An intimate and enlightening tale of one of Romanticism's forsaken muses.' SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN'An absorbing, intoxicating page-turner about a woman who deserves to be remembered.' JENNIFER SAINT'A must-read. McDowell brings to vivid, embodied life; a flirtatious, flawed woman fighting for her place in a man's world.' THE HERALD

'A fascinating, forensic deep-dive' DENISE MINA'Beautifully written, richly evoked and utterly gripping' EVA DOLAN 'A seductive tale of sex and death' SARA SHERIDAN***1857, Glasgow.Madeleine Smith, a young socialite, is on trial for murdering her lover. The scandal shocks the world, with intimate letters published in newspapers. The jury can't decide - delivering a rare 'Not Proven' verdict. Madeleine walks free.1927, New York.Hollywood scout Harry Townsend believes he's found Madeleine, now an elusive widow living under a new name. Once a dazzling figure in bohemian London, she vanished in 1890.Could this quiet woman really be the infamous Madeleine Smith?She holds one last secret. Will Harry convince her to share it?***More praise for Lesley McDowell:'Riveting - a clever portrait of a fascinating, flawed heroine.' THE TIMES'An intimate and enlightening tale of one of Romanticism's forsaken muses.' SUSAN STOKES-CHAPMAN'An absorbing, intoxicating page-turner about a woman who deserves to be remembered.' JENNIFER SAINT'A must-read. McDowell brings to vivid, embodied life; a flirtatious, flawed woman fighting for her place in a man's world.' THE HERALD