Don't go into the woods, they told her.

But she knew better . . .

Killingly, 1897. The female students of Mount Holyoke—an elite university in a sleepy rural town—are famous for their beauty and charm. Except for plain, quiet Agnes and Bertha, who spend their time reading, writing and wandering the dark woods of Killingly, and do not seem interested in ballgowns or young men.

One autumn morning, Bertha vanishes—and the peaceful town of Killingly fractures into chaos. While a search team dredges the pond where she might have drowned, a private detective arrives in town and begins an investigation, discovering before long that this plain, quiet girl was keeping a terrible secret. The truth, if revealed, could put Agnes's life in mortal danger—and shatter the glittering reputation of Mount Holyoke forever...

A gothic turn-of-the-century campus thriller about female desire, rage and ambition, perfect for fans of TRIFLERS NEED NOT APPLY, THE BINDING and FINGERSMITH . . .

'A haunting story . . . will stay with me long after reading' ELIZABETH LEE, author of Cunning Women

'Completely engrossing. Unforgettable!' MARTHA CONWAY, author of The Physician's Daughter

'A story of women who defy strict rules' KATE MANNING, author of My Notorious Life

'A superb novel, suffused with dread' ELIZABETH MCKENZIE, author of The Dog of the North

'Extraordinary fiction' JULIA PHILLIPS, author of National Book Award Finalist Disappearing Earth