A tale about the Shotley Bridge swordmakers: Ideal for fans of Devotion by Hannah Kent, World Without End and Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett.

When a German smuggler is imprisoned in Morpeth Gaol in the winter of 1703, why does Queen Anne’s powerful right-hand man, The Earl of Nottingham, take such a keen interest?

At the end of the turbulent 17th century, the ties that bind men are fraying, turning neighbour against neighbour, friend against friend and brother against brother. Beneath a seething layer of religious intolerance, community suspicion and political intrigue, The Running Wolf takes us deep into the heart of rebel country in the run-up to the 1715 Jacobite uprising.

Hermann Mohll is a master sword maker from Solingen in Germany who risks his life by breaking his guild oaths and settling in England. While trying to save his family and neighbours from poverty, he is caught smuggling swords and finds himself in Morpeth Gaol facing charges of High Treason.

Determined to hold his tongue and his nerve, Mohll finds himself at the mercy of the corrupt keeper, Robert Tipstaff. The keeper fancies he can persuade the truth out of Mohll and make him face the ultimate justice: hanging, drawing and quartering. But in this tangled web of secrets and lies, just who is telling the truth?

Praise for The Running Wolf

‘The meticulous research that has gone into writing this book about the Solingen swordmakers of Germany set at the turn of the 18th century just shines through. We see their lives unfold in northeast England with their struggles resonant of the experiences of so many immigrants today. I learned so much in a totally immersive and captivating read with characters that are brought to life through Helen Steadman’s powerful writing. Highly recommended to all lovers of historical fiction!’

• ROSALIND RUSSELL, THE END OF WHERE WE BEGIN

‘Ms Steadman has an easy approachable writing style that leads you into a historical past and immerses you in the time so that you feel you are there with these almost tangible characters.’

• FIN GRAY, DUPLICITY

‘The author gives a fascinating insight into the difficult decisions that people must make during times of community suspicion and political intrigue.’

• MARK WHITLEY, COUNTRYMAN MAGAZINE

‘Helen Steadman obviously carried out a lot of meticulous research for her book. An unusual novel that brings a little known area of history and its craftsmen to life.’

• KATE PETTIGREW, HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY

Praise for Widdershins

‘A dark and wonderful novel, rich in historical details, herbal lore, traditions and superstitions. Steadman’s cleareyed storytelling and colourful period voice give life to a vibrant cast of characters drawn against the backdrop of tragic historical events.’

• LOUISA MORGAN, A SECRET HISTORY OF WITCHES

‘Infused as it is with aromas of rosemary, fennel and lavender, even the healers’ herbs do not mask the reek of the injustice that sits at the heart of Widdershins. Powerful and shocking.‘

• WYL MENMUIR, THE MANY

'This meticulously researched account of a bigoted man’s inhumanity to women in the seventeenth century will make the modern reader grateful to have been born in an enlightened age.’

• MARI GRIFFITH, THE WITCH OF EYE

‘A compelling and nuanced account of the clash of cultures that claimed so many lives. Steadman’s carefully interwoven narrative conjures a world of herbal lore, folk practice and belief and convincingly portrays the psychological and ideological forces that form a perpetrator, and the social structures that sustain him.’- HELEN LYNCH, TEA FOR THE RENT BOY