A Dark Dividing [Paperback]

Sarah Rayne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2005

When his editor asks him to investigate the background of Simone Anderson, a new Bloomsbury artist, journalist Harry Fitzglen is skeptical. But once he’s met the enigmatic Simone, Harry is intrigued. What happened to Simone’s twin sister who disappeared without trace? And what is the Anderson sisters’ connection to another set of twin girls, Viola and Sorrel Quinton, born in London a century before? All Harry’s lines of inquiry seem to lead to the small Shropshire village of Weston Fferna and the imposing ruin of Mortmain House, standing grim and forbidding on the Welsh borders. As Harry delves into the terrible history of Mortmain, he finds himself drawn into a series of interlocking mysteries, each one more puzzling—and sinister—than the last.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Rayne (pseudonym for "a well-known British author") draws readers into four creepy stories in this hefty suspense thriller. Journalist Harry Fitzglen is unimpressed when he's sent to profile a new London artist named Simone Anderson. When Harry begins digging into Simone's past, however, he discovers that her twin sister, with whom she once was conjoined, mysteriously vanished years ago. As Harry's interest in Simone grows, the story branches into several separate tales: in addition to Harry's present-day investigation, there is the story of another set of conjoined twins, Viola and Sorrel Quinton, born in London 80 years earlier; Simone's own history with her twin, Sonia, and her mother, Melissa, dating to the 1980s; and the parallel plot of a novel that Harry uncovers during his research, The Ivory Gate, published in the 1900s. Rayne writes in a semiformal style that evokes turn-of-the-last-century England and lends the novel an appropriately gothic atmosphere. Well-drawn characters reveal themselves through thoughts and actions more than dialogue, as Rayne favors extensive narration over banter. Still, Rayne has crafted a memorable novel with the right mix of suspense, horror and emotion. Amazingly, she leaves no loose ends. (May)
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Review

"'She has a crisp and intelligent style, and a real way with tension' MO HAYDER 'Clever and atmospheric... a compelling read' Good Book Guide 'When you get halfway through, you won't be able to stop... The varied cast of characters are so well-drawn that they get under your skin long before you reach the grippig climax' Big Issue 'Equal parts Daphne du Maurier, Josephine Tey and Ruth Rendell, Rayne possesses superb storytelling skills' US Mystery Guild 'If your taste runs to psychological thrillers with complicated and riveting plotlines, you will love Sarah Rayne... Fast-moving action with unpredictable twists' Sussex Times" --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK (May 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743450906
• ISBN-13: 978-0743450904
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,232,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sarah Rayne's first novel was published in 1982, and for several years she juggled writing books with working in property, pounding an elderly typewriter into the small hours in order to meet deadlines.

Much of the inspiration for her dark psychological thrillers comes from the histories and atmospheres of old buildings, a fact that is strongly apparent in many of her settings - Mortmain House in A Dark Dividing, Twygrist Mill in Spider Light, and the Tarleton Theatre in Ghost Song.

She has written more than 20 books to date, and her work has met with considerable acclaim, with Tower of Silence being long-listed for the 2005 Theakston's Award. Her books are also published in America, Germany, Holland, Russia and Turkey.

To find out more about Sarah Rayne visit her website or YouTube channel-
www.sarahrayne.co.uk
www.youtube.com/user/SarahRayneAuthor

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very captivating, July 31, 2005

By 

Ingrid (Sydney, Aust) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Dividing

This is the second book I've read of Sarah Rayne's and I'm addicted! She writes in way that reveals a mystery in both the past and present, both of which are somehow linked and culminating into a nail biting climax. She also reveals many facts through the different characters' viewpoints that will keep you guessing. Her characters in this book are all interwined even though there is a 100 year gap in between them. The parallels and links are that there are 2 sets of conjoined twins, the two mothers who were both not in love with their husbands and an eerie house called Mortmain. When you start this book be prepared to set aside some time as the characters are so captivating and interesting that you just have to keep reading on to find out what happens. As in the Tower of Silence, the book does feature a mentally unbalanced character or two, and knowing their motives will keep you on the edge of your seat! I'm still thinking about the chartacters and storyline and I finished the book a few days ago.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Childhood Destroyed, June 28, 2005

By 

Suhainah (Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dark Dividing

At the turn of the century, Charlotte Quinton gave birth to conjoined twins, Viola and Sorrel. But before society had the opportunity to ridicule the `freaks', they passed on. Eighty years later, another set of conjoined twins were born to Melissa Anderson, whose husband was willing to exploit them for the sake of his political campaign. In order to escape the clutches of Joe Anderson, Charlotte runs with the twins to a remote part of Norfolk. The events that follow will finally lead the characters in the book to a dilapidated mansion built in the 1700s called Mortmain - Dead Man's Hands. It is the connection that ultimately binds them all. Sarah Rayne has created a dark and chilling atmosphere in this gripping psychological suspenseful novel. Author writes fluidly with titillating drama that will keep your hands attached to the book like magnet, ready to devour the pages when opportunity arises. I am glad I went with my instincts to read the book as it fulfilled its promise of a terrific tale full of madness and mayhem. Days after i have turned the last page, Charlotte, FLoy, Edward, Viola, Sorrel,Roz/Rosie, Melissa, Joe, Simone and Sonia are still lurking in the corners of my mind. Please ensure that you have tossed aside all your other obligations and responsibilities before you start this piece because when you are halfway through, you will not be able to stop...for anything. -Suhainah Wahiduddin -

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegant and atmospheric, June 24, 2006

By 

L. S. Jaszczak "servant of the secret fire" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dark Dividing (Paperback)

What are the connections between two sets of conjoined ("Siamese") twins born eighty years apart and a ramshackle onetime workhouse named Mortmain (Dead [Man's} Hand)? These are the questions that down-and-out reporter Harry McGlen ends up answering after his editor assigns him to do a story on the enigmatic photographer Simone Marriot (née Alexander).

In this elegant and atmospheric thriller, Sarah Rayne shifts effortlessly among multiple viewpoints (the mothers of both sets of twins, Harry, and Simone, among others) without ever losing the thread of her complicated story, and keeps the reader turning the pages until the satisfying ending, which is the most difficult trick of all, since I find that books that start out with promising premises such as this one often fall flat at the end.

If you enjoy this book I would also recommend Thomas Cook and Robbert Goddard, who write a similar type of fiction - suspense tinged with a nostalgic sadness and often with an all too natural (as opposed to supernatural) horror.