An astounding novel about a girls coming-of-age inter-woven with a real life murder that rocked turn-of-the-century America. Winner of the 2004 Carnegie Medal.

An astounding novel about a girl's coming-of-age interwoven with a real-life murder that rocked turn-of-the-century America. WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL 2003.

'A breathtakingly good novel' Daily Mail

When Mattie Gokey is given a bundle of letters to burn by Grace Brown, she fully intends to do so. But when Grace is found drowned the next day, Mattie finds that it is not as easy to get rid of those letters as she had thought. And, as she reads, a riveting story emerges - not only revealing Grace's secrets but also Mattie's hopes and ambitions for the future and her relationships with her friends and family.

Published to widespread acclaim this part murder-mystery and part coming-of-age story is an astounding and accomplished novel.

While I read A Gathering Light: if George Clooney had walked into the room I would have told him to come back later