"An immediate, immersive experience of sharing the year the fallen Mary Queen of Scots was held in a Scottish island castle prison with a few attendants and only her courage and charm to rescue her. Lyrical, riveting, and unforgettable."
–Margaret George, New York Times bestselling author of Elizabeth I "An unforgettable, spellbinding debut–Flora Carr's
The Tower offers an immersive and intimate portrait of Mary Queen of Scots and the women in her orbit, revealing their humanity beyond the stories and myths."
–Lindsay Lynch, bestselling author of Do Tell "A claustrophobic story about Mary, Queen of Scots' imprisonment in Lochleven Castle,
The Tower tackles much broader issues –-class, religion, sexuality–alongside its exploration of a lesser-known period in the Scots queen's life."
–Paste "Carr's taut debut recalls Maggie O'Farrell's
The Marriage Portrait . . . Carr dexterously explores how the seductive allure of royalty is undimmed by Mary's grim circumstances, which are depicted with earthy physicality. . . this pulled-from-history novel resounds as a victory for female camaraderie and cleverness."
–Booklist "Close-focused and vivid. . . Carr's interest in the women–their bodies, their allegiances, their intimacies–offers a contemporary perspective that extends beyond the [central] foursome to other females seeking or manipulating power. These musings and observations are rendered in bright, cinematic prose."
–Kirkus Reviews "Fascinating"
–Electric Lit "An imaginative, dark gem of a novel, about women, power and fear, still, intelligent and beautifully written, yet as tense as a thriller."
–Neil Blackmore, author of Radical Love
"An absorbing read and an utterly believable female perspective on history. Its cocktail of tension and tenderness perfectly captures the claustrophobic world of the four women in the tower; a historical narrative with contemporary relevance."
–Sally Hinchcliffe, author of Hare House "An intimate, exquisitely told story of Mary, Queen of Scots and her maids during their year of imprisonment, portraying their hopes and fears, their affections and irritations with such skill that you feel you are in the room with them. A beautiful, poignant book that draws you into the world of these women so fully that it is a wrench to leave it."
–Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women