Kathryn Darkling, imprisoned in Holloway, is facing death by hanging for her vengeance killing. Haunted by a spirit, she still hopes to perform the ancient black magic that will free her soul, or her struggle to punish the mighty will have been in vain. Will the love of her life come to her aid?
Or can she find a way to escape her fate?
Winner of The Virginia Prize for Fiction, Bone Rites is a dark, literary tale of love, loss and one woman’s obsessive fight for justice and redemption within a ruthless world.
Reviews:
“Completely gripping from the get-go, Natalie deftly builds such a complex story that has you rooting for a character you know you shouldn’t.”
– Literary agent Hellie Ogden, judge the Novel Prize
“A delightful twist in the murder genre – a serial killer motivated by love.”
– Nicolas Mercier, writer, Call My Agent
About Author Natalie Bayley
Natalie Bayley is the author of Bone Rites, Lolita’s Daughter, The Secret Life of Grandmothers, The Witch Who Saved Paris and The Lady Lyttle Murder Mystery series. Her dark thriller Bone Rites was selected for the 2019 Blue Pencil long list, went on to be shortlisted for the 2021 Blue Pencil First Novel Award and was long listed for the 2021 Caledonia Prize before becoming the Winner of the Virginia Prize for Fiction 2022.
Natalie lives in NSW, Australia where she teaches English, enjoys ocean swimming and whispering to cats.