The Last Handmaid
the unmissable gothic suspense from the award-winning author of People of Abandoned Character
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The Last Handmaid
Narrated by:
Gemma Lawrence
Pre-order Now for £16.57
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Narrated by:
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Gemma Lawrence
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By:
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Clare Whitfield
'An evocative and unsettling tale ... Chilling and thought-provoking' ANNA MAZZOLA, author of The Clockwork Girl
'Richly-drawn and atmospheric.... Whitfield is a masterful storyteller who shines a light on the darkest of themes' NIKKI MARMERY, author of Lillith
THE HANDMAID
Hungary, 1604. Orphaned and alone, Catalina arrives at Csejte Castle with no protection and no power. It is a place of shifting loyalties, and girls who displease the household simply vanish. Survival here depends on obedience – and silence.
THE COUNTESS
Catalina is summoned to serve Countess Erzsébet Báthory, a woman as volatile as she is feared. Only she seems able to soothe her moods, drawing Catalina into the Countess' private chambers and her interest in strange ‘medicines’.
THE COMPULSION
As more girls disappear, Catalina knows there is a cost to staying alive. She must decide whether to try and escape her mistress’ hunger, be consumed by it – or learn to feed it herself…
Inspired by the alleged most prolific female serial killer of all time, told through the eyes of their most trusted companion, this gothic historical suspense is perfect for fans of Carmilla and Weyward.
'Beautifully and atmospherically painted .. A vampiric countess, a forest hag and the woman who chose the darkest path' CATHRYN KEMP, author of A Poisoner's Tale
'Capturing a sense of Gothic splendour tempered with humour and suspense. An epic in every sense' TOM MEAD, author of The House at Devil's Neck
Praise for Clare Whitfield
'Fast-paced and dark' ELODIE HARPER
'Brave and bold' ARAMINTA HALL
'A compulsive read' CAITLIN DAVIES
'An addictive, thrilling five-star read' ELENI KYRIACOU
'An exuberant and atmospheric read' THE TIMES©2026 Clare Whitfield (P)2026 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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Critic reviews
An evocative and unsettling tale of persecution, abandonment and complicity inspired by a terrifying true tale. Chilling and thought-provoking (Anna Mazzola, author of The Clockwork Girl)
From the first page, the reader falls headlong into this pacy, gripping novel about Elizabeth Bathory, the world’s most prolific female serial killer. The setting of early 17th century Hungary is richly-drawn and atmospheric, the study of female cruelty is unflinching and vivid. But this is also a thoughtful book, which reflects on the ties that bind a victim to her tormentor and exposes the bystanders who enable abuse. Whitfield is a masterful storyteller who shines a light on the darkest of themes to ask: how innocent are any of us? (Nikki Marmery, author of Lillith)
When it comes to humanising history and demystifying its bloodthirstiest myths, nobody does it better than Clare Whitfield. This time she sets her sights on mercurial, monstrous Countess Bathory, capturing a sense of Gothic splendour tempered with humour and suspense. An epic in every sense, The Last Handmaid is awe-inspiring. (Tom Mead, author of The House at Devil's Neck)
Beautifully and atmospherically painted ... THE LAST HANDMAID is a chilling, visceral story of hunger, torture and murder. A vampiric countess, a forest hag and the woman who chose the darkest path. (Cathryn Kemp, author of A Poisoner's Tale)
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