Greater Sins

'A striking debut, filled with folkloric mystery and yearning. Read it, then read it again' Amy Twigg, author of Spoilt Creatures

'A muddy, pastoral fable written with an equal measure of beauty and morbidity. Completely enthralling.' Lucy Rose, bestselling author of The Lamb

'Beguiling and elegiac, Greater Sins unravels a tale of mystery and longing in captivating, unfurling prose that completely absorbs you. A book to sink into' Lucy Steeds, author of The Artist

'An extraordinary sense of place and time, written by an exciting new voice' Radio Times (Best Books 2025)

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Who will cast the first stone?

1915, the Cabrach, Aberdeenshire. An isolated Scottish community is disturbed by a strange discovery: a body in a peat bog, perfectly preserved.

Two people haul the body from the ground: Lizzie, the wife of a wealthy local landowner, and Johnny, a nomadic singer and farm hand. At hearthside and inn, people whisper: what have we unearthed?

One unveiling brings others. For Lizzie, tenacious but trapped, the discovery reveals unanswered questions about her past while for Johnny, it threatens to uncover a history he’s trying to outrun.
As their stories entwine, a series of unsettling events befalls the isolated community. Against the echoes of distant war, and with the boundaries blurring between right and wrong, everyone is looking for someone to blame…

Praise for Greater Sins:

'A striking and atmospheric debut' THE TIMES

'The unearthing of a woman’s body in a peat bog during the first world war is the catalyst for a gritty tale of secrets, guilt and desire' OBSERVER

'A haunting picture of a small, intense environment where isolation can breed solidarity and warmth as easily as superstition and exclusion' FINANCIAL TIMES

'Sets a beautifully atmospheric scene from its opening lines to its final moments . . . a compelling and powerful read.' PA MEDIA

'An atmospheric and assured debut' DAILY MAIL

'I absolutely raced through it! What a beautiful book. The prose is so lyrical and the structure so cleverly pulls the reader along - Hanna Thomas Uose, author of WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER

'A haunting and extraordinary debut, which will stay with me for a long time. Set during World War One and told in tender, sinuous prose, this is a simmering tale of outcasts and buried secrets, love and redemption' Danielle Giles, author of MERE

'Dripping with atmosphere, GREATER SINS is a hauntingly beautiful story, set in an isolated community. The writing is stunning; every phrase, every sentence is like poetry. And the characters - they’re complex, fascinating, and oh so relatable. A truly unforgettable read' Fiza Saeed McLynn, author of THE MIDNIGHT CAROUSEL

'A darkly lyrical tale packed with secrets, intertwined relationships and a smattering of folklore. The characters are so richly woven, and the harsh rural world they inhabit so compelling, I could almost feel the chill, and taste the drams' Emma Cowing, author of THE SHOW WOMAN