Ace, King, Knave

A powerful, gripping novel about the dark underside of eighteenth-century England, from bestselling historical novelist Maria McCann, author of The Wilding. Behind Doors Is Another Story. Behind Doors You Can Do What You Like. Sophia - Rational, Demure, And Hiding A 'little Weakness' - Has Recently Married The Charismatic Mr Zedland. But Zedland Has Secrets Of His Own And Sophia Comes To Suspect That Her Marriage Is Not What It Seems. In Cramped Rooms In Covent Garden, Betsy-ann Shuffles A Pack Of Cards. A Gambler, Dealer In Second-hand Goods, And Living With A Grave Robber, Her Life Could Not Be More Different To Sophia's - But She Too Discovers That She Has Been Lied To. As Both Women Take Steps To Discover The Truth, Their Lives Come Together Through A Dramatic Series Of Events, Taking The Reader Through The Streets Of 1760s London: A City Wearing A Genteel Civility On Its Surface And Rife With Hypocrisy, Oppression And Violence Lurking Underneath. London, 1760s: In her cramped rooms, Betsy-Ann shuffles a pack of cards. A gambler, a dealer in gin and stolen goods, and living with a grave robber, she knows there's no honour amongst thieves, but desperately wants to make a fresh start. Sophia, sitting in her Bath parlour, is newly married to the charismatic Edmund. She can hardly believe her luck, especially since she is hiding 'a little weakness', one she is determined to conquer. When both women uncover horrifying secrets about the men they thought they knew, their lives interweave through a dramatic series of events. Who will come up trumps? Sophia has recently married Mr Zedland. But Zedland has secrets of his own. Betsy-Ann is a gambler and living with a grave robber, her life could not be more different to Sophia's - but she too discovers that she has been lied to. As both women take steps to discover the truth, their lives come together through a dramatic series of events