Mr Splitfoot

A contemporary gothic from an author in the company of Kelly Link and Aimee Bender, Mr. Splitfoot tracks two women in two times as they march toward a mysterious reckoning. 'Poetic and atmospheric' Sunday ExpressNat and Ruth are young orphans, living in a crowded foster home run by an eccentric religious fanatic. When a travelling conman comes knocking, they see their chance to escape and join him on the road, proclaiming they can channel the dead. Decades later, Cora is too clever for her office job, too scared of her abysmal lover to cope with her unplanned pregnancy, and she too is looking for a way out. So when her mute Aunt Ruth pays her an unexpected visit, she decides to join her on an unforgettable odyssey across the state of New York. Where is Ruth taking them? Where has she been? And who - or what - has she hidden in the woods at the end of the road?'Hunt mixes her gothic ingredients with great skill, and throws in some quirky contemporary twists for good measure. The result is a riveting, linguistically playful tale about demons, loss, magic and motherhood' Financial Times'Hunt's third novel heads into dark, brilliantly strange territory' Psychologies Magazine Nat and Ruth are young orphans, living in a crowded foster home run by an eccentric religious fanatic. When a traveling con-man comes knocking, they see their chance to escape and join him on the road, proclaiming they can channel the dead - for a price, of courseDecades later, in a different time and place, Cora is too clever for her office job, too scared of her abysmal lover to cope with her unplanned pregnancy, and she too is looking for a way out. So when her mute Aunt Ruth pays her an unexpected visit, apparently on a mysterious mission, she decides to join her. Together the two women set out on foot, on a strange and unforgettable odyssey across the state of New York. Where is Ruth taking them? Where has she been? And who - or what - has she hidden in the woods at the end of the road? Ingenious, infectious, subversive and strange, Mr Splitfoot will take you on a journey you will not regret - and will never forget.