In every condition of humanity, it is precisely play, and play alone, that makes people complete. Friedrich Schiller, On the Aesthetic Education of Man (1795)
The sin eater walks among us, unseen, unheard
Sins of our flesh become sins of hers
Following her to the grave, unseen, unheard
The sin eater walks among us.
The Handmaid’s Tale meets Alice in Wonderland in this gripping and imaginative historical novel about a shunned orphan girl in 16th-century England who is ensnared in a deadly royal plot and must turn her subjugation into her power.
Winner of the Historical Writers’ Association 2021 Debut Crown Award for a first historical fiction novel.
"A riveting description of hardwon female empowerment that weaves together meticulous research, unsolved murder--and an unforgettable heroine. Exhilarating...great storytelling...reminiscent of The Handmaid's Tale or Russell Hoban's great sui-generis sci-fi novel Riddley Walker." – The Washington Post
Indie Next Pick for April 2020 "Oh my. Megan Campisi's Sin Eater completely took me by surprise. It is a wholly unique combination of fantasy, mystery, and historical fiction. Filled with intriguing characters and vivid imagery, this inventive tale will immerse readers in the deceit and intrigue of the royal court. Campisi's narrator is what really sets this novel apart--the sin eater, a woman called to hear the sins of the dying and consume the foods that represent them. A dark, thrilling read!" —Anderson McKean, Page and Palette, Fairhope, AL — American Booksellers Association
One of the Most Anticipated Books of 2020. "A dark, propulsive novel that twists your stomach in all the right ways.” — Lit Hub
“A keenly researched feminist arc of unexpected abundance, reckoning, intellect, and ferocious survival” — Maria Dahvana Headley, author of The Mere Wife
“With piercing prose and a nimble balance of emotion and suspense, Campisi expertly melds the best of historical mystery with top-shelf literary fiction. Amy Stewart and Sarah Waters fans, take note: this is a must-read.” —Publishers Weekly
Selected as one of the Best Historical Mysteries of 2024 from BookBub and BiblioLifestyles’s Best Thriller Books and Mysteries of 2024!
The author of the “magnificent…complex, vivid” (New York Journal of Books) Sin Eater returns with a rousing and propulsive novel based on the astonishing true story of the first female Pinkerton detective whose next assignment could end the Civil War.
Kate Warne is many things: the country’s first female detective, a Pinkerton agent, and a Union spy.
It’s August 1861, and her latest assignment could finally end the bloody Civil War and bring the fractured United States together again. All she has to do is win the trust of her captive: Confederate spy and socialite Rose Greenhow. But with Rose well aware of Kate’s working-class background and belief in abolitionism, it seems an impossible task. Worse, Kate has secrets that make her vulnerable, such as her forbidden love affair with a colleague.
With time running out, Kate faces not only the moral and political divides between herself and Rose, but also the ones she made in her own heart and life. She must decide which divides are worth crossing and how far she’s willing to go to defeat the Confederacy in this spellbinding and moving new novel from Megan Campisi.