Why a Booktrail?
1866: In the slums of 19th-century New York, a tattooed mystic fights for her life. Her survival hangs on the turn of a tarot card.
The Knowing
What you need to know before your trail
Whilst working as a living canvas for an abusive tattoo artist in the slums of 19th-century New York, Flora meets Minnie, an enigmatic circus performer who offers her love and refuge in an opulent townhouse that is home to the menacing and predatory Mr Chester Merton. Flora earns her keep reading tarot cards for his guests whilst struggling to harness her gift, the Knowing – an ability to summon the dead. Caught in a dark love triangle between Minnie and Chester, Flora begins to unravel the secrets inside their house. Then at her first public séance in the infamous cathouse Hotel du Woods, Flora hears the spirit of a murdered boy prostitute and exposes his killer, setting off a train of events that leaves her fighting for her life.
Travel Guide
New York and Manchester
Author Emma Hinds talks about locations in The Knowing
The Knowing is a stunning debut inspired by real historical characters including Maud Wagner, one of the first known female tattoo artists, New York gang the Dead Rabbits, and characters from PT Barnum’s circus in the 1800s.
New York
“Five Points was sinking, everyone knew that. The shabby tenements of the slum leaned lopsidedly against each other as if, like many of its tenants, they no longer had the ability to stand.
Manchester
Manchester isn’t featured as much as New York but the area of the Salford Quays gets a nice mention and the action if focused around here.
BookTrail Boarding Pass: The Knowing
Destination: New York City, Manchester Author/guide: Emma Hinds Departure Time: 1866
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