Marguerite has been locked in the attic of her family home, a disintegrating Chelsea house overlooking the stench of the Thames. For company she has: a sewing machine, a copy of Mrs Beeton-s Book of Household Management and trays of congealing food carried up to her with little regularity. Marguerite has been confined by her mother, C-le, who is concerned about her engagement to an older, near-penniless solicitor, Mr Lewis, and wishes to educate her daughter on -proper- married conduct - lest she drag the family-s good name into disrepute. But why is Marguerite pursuing the aged Mr Lewis in the first place? Why are her mother-s visits seemingly becoming less frequent? And just how much time has passed since the lock closed on the attic-s hatch?
Carrion Crow is a transportive and gloriously gothic commentary on the constraints of polite society - and the even greater danger of conformity - that unfurls one family-s festering secrets.
