Naomi Kelsey – författare

‘I was mesmerised’ LAURA SHEPPERSON, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Heroines‘This gripping, vividly evoked novel takes the reader to the dark heart of the 16th century … unforgettable' Tracy Borman, author of The King’s Witch Nothing scares men like witchcraft… 1589. Scottish housemaid Geillis and Danish courtier Margareta lead opposite lives, but they both know one thing: when a man cries “witch”, no woman is safe.Yet when the marriage of King James VI and Princess Anna of Denmark brings Geillis and Margareta together, everything they supposed about good, evil, men, and women, is cast in a strange and brilliant new light.For the first time in history, could black magic – or rumours of it – be a very real tool for women’s political gain?As the North Berwick witch trials whip Scotland – and her king – into a frenzy of paranoia, the clock is ticking. Can Margareta and Geillis keep each other safe? And once the burnings are over, in whose hands will power truly lie? Inspired by the incredible true story that set 16th-century Scotland and Denmark alight, The Burnings is 2023’s most bewitching debut novel, by a multi-awardwinning new star of historical fiction. ‘A beautifully written re-imagining … clever and tantalising’ S.G. MacLean READERS LOVE THE BURNINGS ‘I was blown away … so gripping, at times it was very hard to put down. I was pulled in emotionally … I do not have any negative comments about this story at all. Brilliantly put together’ Danielle Graham, (Dee, Goodreads) ★★★★★‘I can't recommend this highly enough. It is well written, well researched, and a totally enthralling read’ ★★★★★‘What stands out for me is the clear level of research that went into the writing, plot and characters’ ★★★★★‘Beautifully written, I was transported … The author has a talent for bringing historical figures and events to life … This reminded me of Tracy Borman’s The King’s Witch and I’d love to read more from this author’ ★★★★★‘What a great story’ ★★★★★‘This book is up there with the best of them’ ★★★★★

‘I was mesmerised’ LAURA SHEPPERSON, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Heroines‘This gripping, vividly evoked novel takes the reader to the dark heart of the 16th century … unforgettable'' Tracy Borman, author of The King’s WitchNothing scares men like witchcraft…1589. Scottish housemaid Geillis and Danish courtier Margareta lead opposite lives, but they both know one thing: when a man cries “witch”, no woman is safe.Yet when the marriage of King James VI and Princess Anna of Denmark brings Geillis and Margareta together, everything they supposed about good, evil, men, and women, is cast in a strange and brilliant new light.For the first time in history, could black magic – or rumours of it – be a very real tool for women’s political gain?As the North Berwick witch trials whip Scotland – and her king – into a frenzy of paranoia, the clock is ticking. Can Margareta and Geillis keep each other safe? And once the burnings are over, in whose hands will power truly lie?Inspired by the incredible true story that set 16th-century Scotland and Denmark alight, The Burnings is 2023’s most bewitching debut novel, by a multi-awardwinning new star of historical fiction.‘A beautifully written re-imagining … clever and tantalising’ S.G. MacLeanREADERS LOVE THE BURNINGS‘I was blown away … so gripping, at times it was very hard to put down. I was pulled in emotionally … I do not have any negative comments about this story at all. Brilliantly put together’ Danielle Graham, (Dee, Goodreads) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I can''t recommend this highly enough. It is well written, well researched, and a totally enthralling read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘What stands out for me is the clear level of research that went into the writing, plot and characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Beautifully written, I was transported … The author has a talent for bringing historical figures and events to life … This reminded me of Tracy Borman’s The King’s Witch and I’d love to read more from this author’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘What a great story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book is up there with the best of them’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was mesmerised’ LAURA SHEPPERSON, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Heroines‘This gripping, vividly evoked novel takes the reader to the dark heart of the 16th century … unforgettable' Tracy Borman, author of The King’s Witch Nothing scares men like witchcraft… 1589. Scottish housemaid Geillis and Danish courtier Margareta lead opposite lives, but they both know one thing: when a man cries “witch”, no woman is safe.Yet when the marriage of King James VI and Princess Anna of Denmark brings Geillis and Margareta together, everything they supposed about good, evil, men, and women, is cast in a strange and brilliant new light.For the first time in history, could black magic – or rumours of it – be a very real tool for women’s political gain?As the North Berwick witch trials whip Scotland – and her king – into a frenzy of paranoia, the clock is ticking. Can Margareta and Geillis keep each other safe? And once the burnings are over, in whose hands will power truly lie? Inspired by the incredible true story that set 16th-century Scotland and Denmark alight, The Burnings is 2023’s most bewitching debut novel, by a multi-awardwinning new star of historical fiction. ‘A beautifully written re-imagining … clever and tantalising’ S.G. MacLean READERS LOVE THE BURNINGS ‘I was blown away … so gripping, at times it was very hard to put down. I was pulled in emotionally … I do not have any negative comments about this story at all. Brilliantly put together’ Danielle Graham, (Dee, Goodreads) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I can't recommend this highly enough. It is well written, well researched, and a totally enthralling read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘What stands out for me is the clear level of research that went into the writing, plot and characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Beautifully written, I was transported … The author has a talent for bringing historical figures and events to life … This reminded me of Tracy Borman’s The King’s Witch and I’d love to read more from this author’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘What a great story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This book is up there with the best of them’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Each time the globe turns, murder strikes… 1597, London. When Beatrice’s husband returns from exploring the New World, he comes home with unexpected company: a mysterious woman, and an enormous painted globe.As Hugh refuses to explain who their female guest is, Beatrice’s foreboding grows. The unwieldy globe now strikes her as sinister – a reminder of the world of secrets pervading her household.Then one night, the great, hulking globe begins to turn of its own accord. Terrifying new illustrations appear on its face – and when untimely deaths ensue, Beatrice is convinced that the drawings are connected.Desperate to prove that she is not paranoid, Beatrice risks everything to uncover the truth. What sinister force is behind these killings? What really happened on Hugh’s excursion to the Americas? Who is the strange woman who won’t leave her house? And on this otherworldly map of murders, who will be painted as the final victim?***‘Deliciously gothic and twisty’ LUCY ROSE‘Will make your head spin’ ANNIE GARTHWAITE

Each time the globe turns, murder strikes… 1597, London. When Beatrice’s husband returns from exploring the New World, he comes home with unexpected company: a mysterious woman, and an enormous painted globe.As Hugh refuses to explain who their female guest is, Beatrice’s foreboding grows. The unwieldy globe now strikes her as sinister – a reminder of the world of secrets pervading her household.Then one night, the great, hulking globe begins to turn of its own accord. Terrifying new illustrations appear on its face – and when untimely deaths ensue, Beatrice is convinced that the drawings are connected.Desperate to prove that she is not paranoid, Beatrice risks everything to uncover the truth. What sinister force is behind these killings? What really happened on Hugh’s excursion to the Americas? Who is the strange woman who won’t leave her house? And on this otherworldly map of murders, who will be painted as the final victim?***‘Deliciously gothic and twisty’ LUCY ROSE‘Will make your head spin’ ANNIE GARTHWAITE

Each time the globe turns, murder strikes…1597, London. When Beatrice’s husband returns from exploring the New World, he comes home with unexpected company: a mysterious woman, and an enormous painted globe.As Hugh refuses to explain who their female guest is, Beatrice’s foreboding grows. The unwieldy globe now strikes her as sinister – a reminder of the world of secrets pervading her household.Then one night, the great, hulking globe begins to turn of its own accord. Terrifying new illustrations appear on its face – and when untimely deaths ensue, Beatrice is convinced that the drawings are connected.Desperate to prove that she is not paranoid, Beatrice risks everything to uncover the truth. What sinister force is behind these killings? What really happened on Hugh’s excursion to the Americas? Who is the strange woman who won’t leave her house? And on this otherworldly map of murders, who will be painted as the final victim?***‘Deliciously gothic and twisty’ LUCY ROSE‘Will make your head spin’ ANNIE GARTHWAITE

Each time the globe turns, murder strikes… 1597, London. When Beatrice’s husband returns from exploring the New World, he comes home with unexpected company: a mysterious woman, and an enormous painted globe.As Hugh refuses to explain who their female guest is, Beatrice’s foreboding grows. The unwieldy globe now strikes her as sinister – a reminder of the world of secrets pervading her household.Then one night, the great, hulking globe begins to turn of its own accord. Terrifying new illustrations appear on its face – and when untimely deaths ensue, Beatrice is convinced that the drawings are connected.Desperate to prove that she is not paranoid, Beatrice risks everything to uncover the truth. What sinister force is behind these killings? What really happened on Hugh’s excursion to the Americas? Who is the strange woman who won’t leave her house? And on this otherworldly map of murders, who will be painted as the final victim?***‘Deliciously gothic and twisty’ LUCY ROSE‘Will make your head spin’ ANNIE GARTHWAITE

“Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, all, cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak…” Cyprus, 16th century. Murder, lies and vengeance has left lovers dead, promises broken and no one to trust. Only one woman survives, Bianca.The slain? History knows their names: Emilia, Desdemona, Othello.But why do we not know Bianca? Who was the pale mistress? Liar or lied to? Instigator or victim? In telling one woman’s story, Naomi Kelsey dazzlingly recasts a Shakespearean tragedy as a psychological thriller of jealousy and gaslighting, ambition and envy, and the making and breaking of one of Shakespeare’s most notorious villains, Iago. PRAISE FOR PALE MISTRESS ‘A bold and beautiful triumph. In prose as rich as Cyprus wine and as sharp as a Venetian blade, Naomi Kelsey gives voice to the silenced and reshapes tragedy through a woman's eyes. Lyrical, haunting, and breathtakingly tense, this is historical fiction at its most electrifying.’ SETH INSUA, author of Human, Animal'Once again, Naomi Kelsey bestows us with a thrilling and infuriating story of love, lies and betrayal. An utterly convincing addition to Shakespeare's Othello.' ELLE MACHRAY, author of Havisham'Naomi Kelsey continues to cement her position as one of the most accomplished and empathetic writers of historical fiction.' LAURA SHEPPERSON, author of The Heroines

“Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, all, cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak…” Cyprus, 16th century. Murder, lies and vengeance has left lovers dead, promises broken and no one to trust. Only one woman survives, Bianca.The slain? History knows their names: Emilia, Desdemona, Othello.But why do we not know Bianca? Who was the pale mistress? Liar or lied to? Instigator or victim? In telling one woman’s story, Naomi Kelsey dazzlingly recasts a Shakespearean tragedy as a psychological thriller of jealousy and gaslighting, ambition and envy, and the making and breaking of one of Shakespeare’s most notorious villains, Iago. PRAISE FOR PALE MISTRESS ‘A bold and beautiful triumph. In prose as rich as Cyprus wine and as sharp as a Venetian blade, Naomi Kelsey gives voice to the silenced and reshapes tragedy through a woman's eyes. Lyrical, haunting, and breathtakingly tense, this is historical fiction at its most electrifying.’ SETH INSUA, author of Human, Animal'Once again, Naomi Kelsey bestows us with a thrilling and infuriating story of love, lies and betrayal. An utterly convincing addition to Shakespeare's Othello.' ELLE MACHRAY, author of Havisham'Naomi Kelsey continues to cement her position as one of the most accomplished and empathetic writers of historical fiction.' LAURA SHEPPERSON, author of The Heroines