Susan Stokes-Chapman was born in 1985 and grew up in the historic Georgian city of Lichfield, Staffordshire. She studied for four years at Aberystwyth University, graduating with a BA in Education & English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing. Her debut novel, PANDORA, was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction prize 2020 as well as longlisted for the Bath Novel Award that same year. You can find Susan on Instagram and Twitter under the handle @SStokesChapman.
The Betrayal of Thomas True (2024) A J West "A rare gem of a novel. Gloriously gritty... a darkly thrilling romp in 18th century London that simmers with sinister menace and illicit temptation."
The Burial Plot (2024) Elizabeth Macneal "Taut, propulsive, beautifully done - Macneal has once again written a richly drawn story with characters that leap from the page and a plot which hooks you in from the first page to the very last."
The Puzzle Wood (2024) Rosie Andrews "A richly layered Gothic mystery with delicious undertones of menace throughout, The Puzzle Wood is a story full of dark twists with an even darker heart at its sinister core."
Enlightenment (2024) Sarah Perry "Once again Sarah Perry has gifted us with an ambitious story impeccably imagined in poignant prose; a beautifully nuanced novel of love in all its aspects, artfully marrying faith and science into something truly beguiling."
Spitting Gold (2024) Carmella Lowkis "A compelling and atmospheric story of sisterhood and female agency, Spitting Gold is an evocative gothic tale where nothing is quite what it seems."
The Household (2024) Stacey Halls "With warm and artful prose this is a story richly realised and sympathetically imagined, making THE HOUSEHOLD undoubtedly my favourite novel written by Stacey Halls so far, whose writing goes from strength to strength. I loved it."
Clairmont (2024) Lesley McDowell "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."
The Beholders (2024) Hester Musson "A page-turning epistolary novel which takes us on a weaving tale of intrigue, full of heart, that held me completely in its thrall until the very last line. Bravo!"
The Revels (2023) Stacey Thomas "An original debut of rich historical detail with a protagonist you really want to root for."
The Square of Sevens (2023) Laura Shepherd-Robinson "A sweeping Dickensian tour de force of a novel, The Square of Sevens is an immaculately researched piece of fiction with all the twists and turns of a fortune teller's wheel, cementing the author's place as the queen of modern Georgian literature. Bravo Laura Shepherd-Robinson, I'm in awe!"
Our Hideous Progeny (2023) C E McGill "Compelling and utterly absorbing, OUR HIDEOUS PROGENY is an artfully crafted debut that echoes the dark essence of Mary Shelley's FRANKENSTEIN while maintaining a fascinating originality all of its own."
Fyneshade (2023) Kate Griffin "With a satisfyingly dark anti-hero at its core Fyneshade makes for compelling storytelling and proves Katie Griffin's a new standout voice in gothic fiction."
The Secrets of Hartwood Hall (2023) Katie Lumsden "With echoes of Jane Eyre but with a heart of its own . . . a suspenseful and beautifully crafted novel filled with atmosphere, rich characters and plenty of layers to keep a reader hooked right to the end."
Needless Alley (2023) (William Garrett, book 1) Natalie Marlow "1930s Birmingham is brought expertly to life in this atmospheric crime noir where corruption and seedy entanglements lurk down every darkly lit street. Compelling and clever, Needless Alley makes for a gripping read that any Peaky Blinder fan is sure to love."
The Toll House (2022) Carly Reagon "A satisfyingly good old-fashioned ghost story that brilliantly echoes the likes of Susan Hill with an originality all of its own. Perfect for a spooky autumnal read."
(b.1985)
