The Smallest Man was the debut novel released by Frances Quinn in 2021. I love historical fiction and I was intrigued by the premise of this one. I knew it was loosely based on the story of Jeffrey Hudson, also known as ‘The Queen’s Dwarf. He was bought as a gift for Queen Henrietta Maria, the young French wife of Charles I and went on to become her confidante, advisor and friend.
After previously writing books aimed at children and young adults, The Mercies was the debut adult novel by bestselling author Kiran Millwood Hargrave. The book was published in 2020 and debuted as The Times number 1 bestseller.
The Familiars is the debut novel by fellow northerner Stacey Halls, published in 2019. It went on to be a bestseller and was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick in 2019.
I was keen to know more about the notorious witch trials that swept the north of England in the 17th century and couldn’t wait to read the novel described as “historical fiction at its feminist best” by Red Magazine.