The #1 international bestseller and The New York Times Editor’s Choice “As lush as the novels of Kate Morton and Diane Setterfield, as exciting as The Alienist and Iain Pears’ An Instance of the Fingerpost , this exquisite literary thriller will intrigue book clubs and rivet fans of historical fiction.” —A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window “A lush, evocative Gothic.” — The New York Times Book Review “ This terrifically exciting novel will jolt, thrill, and bewitch readers.” — Booklist , starred review Obsession is an art. In this “sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art, and obsession” (Paula Hawkins, bestselling author of The Girl on the Train ), a beautiful young woman aspires to be an artist, while a man’s dark obsession may destroy her world forever. Obsession is an art. In 1850s London, the Great Exhibition is being erected in Hyde Park and, among the crowd watching the dazzling spectacle, two people meet by happenstance. For Iris, an arrestingly attractive aspiring artist, it is a brief and forgettable moment. But for Silas, a curiosity collector enchanted by all things strange and beautiful, the meeting marks a new beginning. When Iris is asked to model for Pre-Raphaelite artist Louis Frost, she agrees on the condition that he will also teach her to paint. Suddenly, her world begins to expand beyond her wildest dreams—but she has no idea that evil is waiting in the shadows. Silas has only thought of one thing since that chance meeting, and his obsession is darkening by the day. “A lush, evocative Gothic” ( The New York Times Book Review ) that is “a perfect blend of froth and substance” ( The Washington Post ), The Doll Factory will haunt you long after you finish it and is perfect for fans of The Alienist , Drood , and Fingersmith . “When a book refuses to shy away from squalor and brutality while venerating the passionate and beautiful, it is always a memorable experience— The Crimson Petal and the White , by Michel Faber; The Poisonwood Bible, by Barbara Kingsolver; Fingersmith , by Sarah Waters. Joining this list of haunting novels is Elizabeth Macneal's unapologetically lush debut, THE DOLL FACTORY... There is hardly an aspect of Victorian London that [Macneal] has not mastered.” ― The New York Times Book Review “I’ve missed subway stops to finish a book, but this is the first time I almost missed a plane . . . What more could one want from a Victorian thriller? But Macneal delivers even more . . . It’s a perfect blend of froth and substance, a guilty pleasure wrapped around a provocative history lesson.” ― The Washington Post "A sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art and obsession." -- Paula Hawkins, internationally bestselling author of The Girl on the Train "A stunningly confident first novel with a real sense of period and place . . . thoroughly engrossing." -- Ian Rankin, New York Times bestselling author of RATHER BE THE DEVIL "Talented debut novelist Macneal drops readers right into a Victorian London that’s home to stinking squalor and chaos, but also significant beauty and possibility. Midway through, readers won’t know if they're holding a romance, tragedy, or murder mystery, but won’t pause long enough to wonder about it as Iris rails against the limitations of her gender and social status, and Silas’ creepiness comes into sharp focus…This terrifically exciting, chiaroscuro novel became an instant bestseller in England, with TV rights already sold, and will jolt, thrill, and bewitch U.S. readers, too." ― Booklist (starred review) "A stunning novel that twines together power, art, and obsession. At every turn expectations are confounded - it’s a historical novel and yet feels incredibly relevant and timely. I loved its warmth, its wry humour, and the way each small thread leads into an unbearably tense and chilling denouement that had me totally gripped." -- Sophie Mackintosh, Man Booker Prize-longlisted author of The Water Cure "An astonishingly good debut. The Doll Factory reminded me of The Crimson Petal and the White , Fingersmith and Vanity Fair but had a richness of tone that was uniquely its own. Macneal writes with utter mastery, creating a lushly intricate world peopled by living, breathing characters you can’t help but fall in love with and a plot that rattles like a speeding carriage to its thrilling conclusion. I couldn’t put it down. You won’t be able to either." -- Elizabeth Day, award-winning author of THE PARTY "I lovedTHE DOLL FACTORY from the very first page and couldn’t do anything else until I’d read right to the end. An exquisite novel of obsession, delusion, resilience and love, Elizabeth Macneal really is a breathtaking new talent." -- AJ Pearce, internationally bestselling author of DEAR MRS. BIRD "Engrossing and atmospheric. Fascinating real historical background (the Pre-Raphaelites) and super invented characters. I can prac