1934, London.

When Lydia Langstone flees her abusive husband, a member of the British Union of Fascists, she seeks refuge in the gloomy lodging house of her elderly father.

But No. 7 Bleeding Heart Square is home to a dark mystery.

Where is Miss Penhow, the middle-aged spinster who owns the house, but hasn’t been seen for four years?

Why does a seedy plain-clothes policeman watch the square so obsessively?

And who is sending parcels of rotting hearts to the house?

Legend has it that the devil once danced in Bleeding Heart Square, and as Lydia probes further into Miss Penhow’s disappearance, she begins to suspect that a sinister presence might still lurk in the shadows …

‘The period atmosphere is flawless.

Taylor simply gets better and better’ SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

‘Andrew Taylor has long been in the top rank of British crime writers, never disappointing, particularly strong on depth of characterization and moody atmosphere.

In Bleeding Heart Square he excels himself’ THE TIMES

‘Moving, atmosphere and suspenseful’ GUARDIAN

‘A beautifully written Gothic thriller’ RED

A MYSTERY BASED ON A TRUE STORY SET IN THE COUNTRY AGE OF CRIME WRITING