The Sleeping Beauties
An unputdownable tale of obsession, jealousy and heartache against the backdrop of WW2
May 1945 and at long last, Rosamund Caradon is feeling optimistic. As she returns the last few evacuees to London from her Devonshire manor, she vows to protect dance-obsessed daughter Jasmine from further peril.
But a chance meeting with a Sadler’s Wells ballet dancer changes everything.
When the beautiful, elusive Briar Woods bursts into Rosamund’s train carriage, it’s clear her sights are set on the immediately captivated Jasmine. And Rosamund cannot shake the eerie feeling this accidental encounter is not what it seems.
For Briar may be far away from the pointe shoes and greasepaint of the Sleeping Beauty ballet that is so much a part of her, but her performance for Rosamund might just be her most successful yet.
This, Briar feels, is a show for a mother and daughter. A dance that could turn deadly…
Reviews
This was such a well-written and gripping read and I was completely in awe of how Ashe kept me guessing with the story’s twists. You will not be able to put it down!
A compelling novel with a twist that you won't see coming! It completely arrested my attention and I couldn't stop reading until I'd devoured every single page.
Rich with historical detail and high-stakes drama. Mesmerising.
An enchanting mix of historical fiction, fairy tale, and above all, ballet novel. Ashe's ballet background shines through as her dancers come to life... Well researched, but communicated with a light touch. Recommended for anyone who ever dreamed of becoming a dancer.
Rarely have I been so keen to uncover the truth. Simply excellent.
A tale of obsession, jealousy and heartache, set against the backdrop of post-war London.
As with her debut, Ashe confidently drags the reader into her suspenseful and unsettling tale, until you’re right there, watching every move the dancers make. The rich historical detail is applied with a light touch; Ashe is surely establishing herself as the queen of historical ballet fiction.
Ashe has a gift for building suspense and writing thrilling set-pieces. These are based on meticulous historical research that is fully integrated into the narrative – the graft between history and imagination is seamless... It is also a work of feminist fiction that is full of heart, but also unflinching in describing a world still full of obstacles as well as opportunities.
I was left wondering whether crime fiction is the right designation for a story of such huge emotional depth, and so rich with a slice of history not often explored. Regardless of the genre label it merits, it’s a page-turner. You’ll want to follow Briar’s story to the sometimes-bitter end.
[A] satisfying page-turner and a moving meditation on the role of art in times of distress.
(Ashe) pulls readers in with another high-stakes, atmospheric, compelling thriller.
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