The days of the Barrow Union at Roose are numbered and it is due be closed, along with all the other workhouses. Instead ‘Cottage Homes’ have been set up for pauper children, where they live under the care of a resident mother and father. Robert and Annie McClure are tasked with taking care of several children. A skilled tailor, Robert trains boys to his profession whilst his wife prepares the girls to go into service.

Molly Dubber has been at the Home since the age of three, though she has never been told the truth about the terrible event that brought her there. When a request comes in for a new girl to work at Lindal Hall, Annie decides to put Molly forward. The Hall has a reputation for not keeping servants due to a moody and unpredictable owner, damaged by his experiences in the trenches.
Resigned to the fact that her love for Annie’s stepbrother is not requited, Molly takes up the position at the ramshackle hall. Then she finds herself with some unexpected attention – and an unwelcome visitor from the tragedy of her past…

‘With a strong theme of resolving the trauma of the past and finding hope for the future, this is a poignant and atmospheric story which will resonate with many readers.’ – Maybelle Wallis, author of Heart of Cruelty, The Piano Player and Daughter of Strangers

‘In my opinion, this is the best of Katie Hutton’s brilliant sequence… As always, characters are fully rounded, with their rough edges, failings and foibles developed carefully and skilfully. For people who love this form of historical, romantic drama (and even for those who don’t normally but want to see our writing craft at its finest) this book is a must.’ – Aidan Morrissey, Historical Novel Society

Amazon five star reviews:

‘This is a fabulous book with impeccable historical research and my heart went out to poor Molly.’

‘A beautifully written story. Following the closure of workhouses Cottage Homes were set up instead. By all accounts Robert and Annie ran a lovely welcoming and supportive home for the young children. A fabulous story of love and loss and so much else as well. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was captivated by the story line and the characters.’

‘Hutton writes with style, empathy, and great attention to period detail. She treats the difficult subjects of childhood abuse, and war-induced post-traumatic stress disorder with a lightness of touch that makes this book a compelling and memorable read.’

‘The Maid of Lindal Hall is a great read. Katie Hutton creates believable characters and right from the start the reader is drawn into Molly’s life and the mystery behind her yearly years and dead parents. The story set in Barrow, England in the 1930s, has been well researched and feels authentic to that time. It moves along at a good pace and holds some unexpected twists, turns and characters. Hutton deals sympathetically with the psychological and physical damage experienced by men returning from WW1, through Molly’s relationships. A compelling story that keeps the reader engaged.’