The Cellar: A Novel - Hardcover

Walters, Minette

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0802124518 ISBN 13: 9780802124517

Publisher: Mysterious Press, 2016

Synopsis

From the internationally bestselling, award-winning crime writer Minette Walters, The Cellar is a harrowing, compulsively readable novel about a family of African immigrants, the Songolis, and the dark secret they keep hidden in the depths of their seemingly respectable British home.

On the day Mr. and Mrs. Songoli’s young son fails to come home from school, fourteen-year-old Muna’s fortunes change for the better. Until then, her bedroom was a dank windowless cellar, her activities confined to cooking and cleaning. Over the years, she had grown used to being abused by the Songoli family to being their slave.

Now that Scotland Yard has swarmed the Songoli house to investigate the disappearance of the son, Muna is given a real bedroom, real clothing, and treated, at least nominally, as a daughter. But her world remains confined. She is not allowed to go outside, doesn’t know how to read or write, and cannot speak English. At least that’s what the Songolis believe. Before long it becomes clear that young Muna is far cleverer and her plans more terrifying than the Songolis, or anyone else, can ever imagine.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

From internationally bestselling crime writer Minette Walters comes The Cellar—a harrowing and compulsively readable novel about a family of African immigrants and the dark secret they keep hidden in the depths of their seemingly respectable British home.

On the day Mr. and Mrs. Songoli’s ten-year-old son fails to come home from school, fourteen-year-old Muna’s fortunes change for the better. Until then, her bedroom has been a dank, windowless cellar, her activities confined to cooking and cleaning. Over the years, she has grown used to being abused by the Songoli family—physically, emotionally, and even sexually. She has grown used to being their slave.

With the son’s disappearance, Scotland Yard swarms the Songoli home, led by a savvy female inspector who isn’t afraid to ask hard questions. To keep up appearances, Muna is given a real bedroom and real clothing, and she is treated, at least nominally, as a daughter. But when the police leave the premises, she must once again call her captors “Princess” and “Master,” and her world remains confined. She is not allowed to go outside, doesn’t know how to read or write, and cannot speak English. At least that’s what the Songolis believe. Before long, it becomes clear that young Muna is far cleverer—and her plans far more terrifying—than the Songolis, or anyone else, could ever imagine. 

For fans of Ruth Rendell and P. D. James, The Cellar reveals a terrifying world far from the public
eye, and shows what happens when humanity is pushed to its very limit.

About the Author:

Minette Walters is the critically acclaimed and internationally bestselling author of suspense novels including Innocent Victims, Disordered Minds, and Acid Row. She is the recipient of the Edgar Award for Best Novel and the Macavity Award for The Sculptress, two CWA Gold Dagger Awards, and the CWA John Creasey award for best first novel for The Ice House.

About this edition

• Publisher: Mysterious Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0802124518
• ISBN 13: 9780802124517
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192