The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Discover the Sunday Times bestselling supernatural historical fantasy from the author of The Bear and the Nightingale, a spellbinding, sweeping novel set in the trenches of WW1. WATERSTONES SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY BOOK OF THE MONTH

'Darkly beautiful and deeply humane. ' Ava Reid, bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

'One of the best historical fantasies I've ever read' Emma Törzs, bestselling author of Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe

'Wonderful storytelling. Inventive, haunting and deeply moving. ' Sarah Winman, bestselling author of Still Life

Amid the falling shells of Flanders Field, magic and mystery fills the air...

January 1918: Laura Iven, a Canadian nurse, returns home from the war, only to receive devastating news - her brother Freddie is dead. But something doesn't quite make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura heads back to Belgium, volunteering at a private hospital. There, she encounters the eerie whispers of ghosts moving among those still living and a strange inn-keeper whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could this have happened to Freddie - but if so, where is he?

November 1917: Freddie Iven wakes after an explosion to find himself trapped with a wounded German soldier. Against all the odds, they form a bond and claw their way to an escape. But in the chaos of No Man's Land, neither know where to turn to avoid persecution. Amidst the atrocity, they encounter a fiddler with the power to make their hellscape vanish - but at what price?

With the power to both warm and break your heart, The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a breathtaking and spellbinding tale of love, survival, and the supernatural.

'Well-researched and beautifully written, this is a compelling, memorable novel. ' The Guardian

'A spectacular tour de force ... I love this book so much and want everyone to read it! ' Naomi Novik, bestselling author of A Deadly Education

'A wonderful clash of fire and ice ... A book you won't want to let go of. ' Diana Gabaldon, bestselling author of the Outlander series

'An exquisite, brilliant gem of a story. ' Conn Iggulden, bestselling author of Nero

'Arden is at the very height of her powers with this rich, heart-breaking and life-affirming supernatural journey through the darkest hours of WWI. I've never read anything like it. ' Laura Steven, author of Our Infinite Fates

'Visionary, imaginative and brilliantly written. ' Anthony Horowitz, bestselling author of The Power of Five

'Mixing historical fiction with the paranormal, this haunting, atmospheric tale of separated siblings is a real gem of a book. ' Heat Magazine

'A gripping tale of loss, mystery, ghosts and queer romance. ' BBC Culture Online

Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024