Once a Monster

‘Robert Dinsdale mixes history and mythology with great panache . . . Richly textured and with an appropriately labyrinthine plot . . . Book of the Month’ Sunday TimesMan or monster? Hero or villain?London, 1861: Ten-year-old Nell belongs to a crew of mudlarks who work a stretch of the Thames along the Ratcliffe Highway. An orphan since her mother died, leaving Nell with only broken dreams and a pair of satin slippers she spends her days searching for treasure in the mud in order to appease her master, Benjamin Murdstone.But one day, Nell discovers a strange body on the shore. Nearly seven feet tall, the creature has matted hair covering his legs, and on his head is the suggestion of horns. Her fellow mudlarks urge her to steal what she can, but as she ventures closer the figure draws breath – and Nell is forced to make a decision that will change her life forever . . .From the critically acclaimed author of The Toymakers comes an imaginative retelling of the legend of the Minotaur, perfect for lovers of historical fiction with a mythical twist such as Stone Blind and Circe.Praise for Once a Monster:‘Imaginative mash-up of the mythical with Victorian gothic’ – The Times‘A wonderful magic trick of a story, full of very human monsters and monstrous humans. Dinsdale is a beautiful, evocative story teller’ – Stuart Turton, bestselling author of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

A wonderful magic trick of a story, full of very human monsters and monstrous humans. Dinsdale is a beautiful, evocative story teller., [An] imaginative mash-up of the mythical with Victorian gothic., Robert Dinsdale mixes history and mythology with great panache in Once a Monster, What if the Minotaur survived, and followed Ariadne’s string out of the twisting darkness of the labyrinth? From this thread, Dinsdale spins an engaging yarn about dreams, second chances, and monsters both ordinary and supernatural. The story flows as smoothly as the waters of the Thames, and is just as dark and deep. Of note is Dinsdale’s ability to turn a phrase, shimmering like fine crystal held to the light. A dazzling and heartfelt book., An inventive and irresistible retelling of the legend of the Minotaur.

Robert Dinsdale was born in North Yorkshire and currently lives in Leigh-on-Sea.He is the author of five previous critically acclaimed novels including the bestselling The Toymakers, which was his first venture into magic.