ESSEX SERPENT

Made into an Apple TV series starring Tom Hiddleston, this warm novel of unapologetic appetites sees desire and faith mingling on the marshes. London 1893 and when Cora Seaborne's controlling husband dies, she steps into her new life as a widow with as much relief as sadness. Along with her son Francis, a curious, obsessive boy, she leaves town for Essex in the hope that fresh air and open space will provide refuge. On arrival, rumours reach them that the mythical Essex Serpent, once said to roam the marshes claiming lives, has returned to the coastal parish of Aldwinter. Cora, a keen amateur naturalist with no patience for superstition, is enthralled, convinced that what the local people think is a magical beast may be a yet-undiscovered species. As she sets out on its trail she is introduced to William Ransome, the vicar, who is also deeply suspicious of the rumours, but thinks they are a distraction from true faith. As he tries to calm his parishioners, Will and Cora strike up an intense relationship affecting each other in ways that surprise them both. Set in an age of exhilarating and alarming change, the book is a celebration of love in all its forms. 420pp, paperback.