Gentle Things

Gentle Things is a radiant historical novel filled with longing and madness. Beautifully drawn, it’s a tense descent into madness until the final page. A daring and devouring gothic gem of a novel – Lucy Rose, bestselling author of The Lamb
One of the best things I’ve read in ages. Giles weaves together multiple genres to craft a story that manages to be both cosy and menacing, historical and fresh. The flawed but relatable characters come across as real people reaching out through time. There’s an intriguing slow-burn mystery that seethes between the pages until it finally erupts, but I never felt impatient for answers, because the setting is so richly and believably drawn that it’s simply a joy to inhabit – plague and fire and boils and all. I’d recommend it without hesitation. – Liam Higginson, author of The Hill in the Dark Grove
Gentle Things is a stunning fever dream of a book, at once brutal and beguiling, with a creeping sense of horror as the nightmare of Lucy’s marriage - and her husband’s business - is revealed. Enchanting, gorgeous, deeply sinister and one of my favourite books of 2026 so far – Cathryn Kemp, author of A Poisoner’s Tale
Meticulously researched, tightly plotted, and beautifully written: Gentle Things starts as the gentlest of possessions but will soon haunt you incessantly. I, for one, couldn’t get enough, and will gladly allow this rare novel to live within my skull for years to come – Johanna van Veen, author of Blood on Her Tongue
A sophomore novel that you won’t be able to put down, Gentle Things combines a heady story of desire with stomach-turning twists and a strong dose of Gothic horror. Danielle Giles writes with a deliciously immersive historical voice that pulls you deep into this compelling tale of medicine and madness – Carmella Lowkis, author of Spitting gold
A dark and disturbing tale … beautifully written, you will be drawn into the claustrophobic world of the mere, where sinners fear the retribution of both God and the devil – Laura Shepherd-Robinson, bestselling author of The Square of Sevens, on Mere
It is rare for an author to fully recreate the strangeness of the past, but Danielle Giles has done exactly that. Through eerie, beautiful writing, she takes readers on a mystery … a gem of a novel – Costanza Casati, bestselling author of Babylonia, on Mere
Chilling, dark and immersive … I loved the originality of the story and the brave and unexpected use of language. Such a treat of a novel – Rosanna Pike, Women’s Prize longlisted author of A Little Trickerie, on Mere
Artful and atmospheric – Annie Garthwaite, author of Cecily, on Mere

Danielle Giles is a writer and researcher based in Bristol. She has been published in Extra Teeth and Dear Damsels (writing as Danielle Vrublevskis), shortlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize and the Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize, and longlisted for the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize. She won the Local Prize in the 2023 Bath Short Story Award. Gentle Things is her second novel.

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