When timber baron George Pemberton returns to the mountains of North Carolina with his new wife Serena, a man confronts them with his daughter – whom, it is alleged, is carrying George’s child. From the very first chapter we learn that George, a violent man, has chosen his equal in Serena as she informs the girl she will get nothing from them.

Lady Macbeth-like, Serena sets out on an ambitious plan to destroy anyone who comes in the way of their becoming a powerful timber empire. But things are stacking up against the Pembertons. The Depression has hit, the government are forcing landowners to sell off their properties to create national parkland and their workers are dying due to unsafe working conditions. Then, with the realisation that she is unable to have a child of her own, Serena turns her attention to murdering the only heir to their empire, George’s illegitimate son.

Serena is a strong novel with a great female villain. It’s a dark and brooding piece of Appalachian gothic by a wonderful storyteller.