The Stranger House

The Stranger House
Reginald Hill

A stunning psychological thriller set in Cumbria past and present, from the award-winning author of the Dalziel and Pascoe seriesThings move slowly in the tiny Cumbrian village of Illthwaite, but all that's about to change.Post-grad Sam Flood and historian Miguel Mercado first meet at The Stranger House, Illwaithe’s local inn. Sam is there to find information on her grandmother, who left four decades before, while Mig’s research stretches back to the English Reformation, four centuries ago.The pair have nothing in common, yet their paths become increasingly entangled as they pursue their separate quests. Together they will discover who to trust and who to fear in this ancient village where the inhabitants are determined to keep the past buried.

REGINALD HILL

THE STRANGER HOUSE

Copyright (#ulink_7ff2378e-4d43-5fbc-84a1-1a7e924d47b2)

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Harper HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

Copyright © Reginald Hill 2005

Reginald Hill asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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HarperCollinsPublishers has made every reasonable effort to ensure that any picture content and written content in this ebook has been included or removed in accordance with the contractual and technological constraints in operation at the time of publication.

Source ISBN: 9780007194834

Ebook Edition © OCTOBER 2015 ISBN: 9780007351619

Version: 2015-09-17

For Allan, Brian, John and Peter

To his friends a man should be firm in friendship sharing gifts and sharing laughter.

‘The Sayings of the High One’ Poetic Edda

Be helpful to strangers who stop at your house,don’t mock or demean them.It’s hard to be certain simply by lookingwhat kin they may claim.

‘The Sayings of the High One’ Poetic Edda

By dead-man’s shore in shadow-landa hall was raised roofed with serpentswhose venom drips on those who dwell therekillers and defilers. All doors face north.

‘The Sibyl’s Prophecy’ Poetic Edda

Contents

Cover Page (#u104f8ffe-a2c0-54db-89e4-e688b3f02371)

Title Page (#u5244fe15-c0a5-5a07-bf50-15052e13562a)

Copyright (#uec2d6605-2fc8-5ec7-922f-0511ff47ce31)

Dedication (#u836a2b61-e90a-5e08-b8e5-284a92e48c8a)

Epigraph (#u498671bd-9bcd-552a-b54c-ab457c6e7edf)

Author's Note (#u4e2d0c9c-8c59-5c16-9d5b-eaf33a3c3389)

Part One Blood & Wine (#u1c32e66d-fc9c-5793-9a02-aff5f7846c37)

1 my people (#ue1c8decd-9bce-58c9-9aae-ebacb60969c2)

2 una familia buena y devota (#ue53d6f48-869c-57c6-82b8-ca1732da492b)

Part Two The Valley of the Shadow (#u1cbbfb4b-0d6d-58c7-833c-4c1c0e03fffd)

1 Hilbert’s hotel (#u743899c0-276b-5b69-925b-78826a384d55)

2 a turbulent priest (#ue3262cce-4024-5858-a07c-36189da945fa)

3 hymn books and hassocks (#ue673ede1-806b-54b3-bb0f-89fe173c3209)

4 the wolf-head cross (#u15af79b3-16dd-564f-b12a-5147d8153c18)

5 a nice straight country road (#u3442de01-db84-5eac-99e8-1cd0789f65a5)

6 pillow problems (#u6e018984-2d67-5230-be58-0799c8f05e82)

7 the waif boy (#ued8e8eca-627f-5f5a-966b-31ab571285cc)

8 a bit bloody late (#u49d5de30-3139-52ab-9474-8e1d7a82c2bd)

Part Three The Death of Balder (#u7d504b38-ab17-5411-8ea4-9bd336f0f4c5)

1 the last prime number (#uf3066b62-f05d-5a48-8eb2-de0f7016e8c7)

2 inquisition (#ucff08e0a-35a3-5c51-8443-e067aae65889)

3 wolf head, angel face (#litres_trial_promo)

4 Alice’s journal (#litres_trial_promo)

5 an amicable pair (#litres_trial_promo)

6 ejection (#litres_trial_promo)

7 the tale of Noddy (#litres_trial_promo)