Read by Sarah Nichols

From the critically acclaimed author of Hekla's Children comes a dark and haunting tale of our world and the next. After her hand is amputated following a tragic accident, Rachel Cooper suffers vivid nightmares of a woman imprisoned in the trunk of a hollow tree, screaming for help. When she begins to experience phantom sensations of leaves and earth with her missing limb, Rachel is terrified she is going mad. But then another hand takes hers, and the trapped woman is pulled into our world. This woman has no idea who she is, but Rachel can't help but think of the mystery of Oak Mary, a female corpse found in a hollow tree and who was never identified. Three urban legends have grown up around the case; was Mary a Nazi spy, a prostitute, or a gypsy witch? Rachel is desperate to learn the truth, but darker forces are at work-for a rule has been broken, and Mary is in a world where she doesn't belong. "Brogden blends sinister undertones into an action-packed, supernatural thriller filled with heart." "Brogden has created another highly satisfying novel here, one that feels both familiar and original….One of the highlights of the year, for both horror and fantasy lovers." "In Brogden's eerie supernatural tale…the mechanics of Brogden's dual worlds are carefully crafted, and the mystery is wrapped in rich folklore and urban myth. Brogden paces the story like a thriller, but its foundations lie in its realistic portrayal of Rachel's postinjury life; Tom's obvious delight in his resilient, self-reliant wife; and the poignancy of Mary's story. This elegant horror story has deep psychological and emotional roots."

Mode of access: World Wide Web