The Face Stealer

About the book

A perplexing enigma lures the thieving Fitzglen family back to a shocking crime committed during the time of Catherine the Great in the third installment of the captivating Theatre of Thieves gothic mystery series, taking place in Victorian England.

In 1909 London, the Fitzglens manage London's premier theatre while also engaging in a lucrative side business of theft. Despite being thieves, they adhere to a strict code of ethics, ensuring they only steal from those who can afford the loss.

After a performance, Jack Fitzglen is approached by a stranger who accuses a Fitzglen of a serious crime in a distant Russian village. Jack is certain that the culprit is the disgraced Saintly Simeon, who was banished from the family for violating their principles.

Simeon has stolen three valuable and eerily unsettling Stone Heads, resembling children who disappeared over a hundred years ago. These sculptures were hidden away in a secluded Russian monastery, their purpose - to safeguard the priceless artworks or to protect the villagers from the influence of the Heads - remains a mystery.

Teaming up with fellow actor Viola Gilfillan, Jack embarks on a mission to recover the stolen items and correct the wrongs that have been done. However, as they delve into the past, uncovering secrets dating back to the treacherous reign of Catherine the Great, the malevolent power of the Stone Heads begins to ensnare them in a darkness that may prove impossible to escape.

This eerie gothic historical mystery by renowned British author Sarah Rayne will captivate readers of Daphne du Maurier, Laura Purcell, Rebecca James, Sarah Waters, and Stuart Turton.