The Four Marys: A Quartet of Contemporary Folk Tales - Tapa blanda

"Powerful stories about the lives and deaths of women" - Marina Warner "In sinuous prose the past shimmers to life through the present. The Four Marys is a tremendous achievement." - Zoe Wicomb "Rafferty shows all the vivid hues ... gutsy and red-blooded ... the titular fourth tale is superb" - Alan Bett, The Skinny "A strong collection of tales ... Rafferty s ability to honestly represent the deep love and passion of motherhood, and also the desires of women, is a testament to her writing." - Rebecca Dark, We Love This Book "Each of the four tales is almost spellbinding in its own right. Through her skillful use of language and attention to detail Rafferty brings her settings, characters and ideas to vivid life, each feeling as wild and primal as reproduction itself." - Joanna Kolber, Dundee University Review of the Arts "Engrossing, thought-provoking, moving and disturbing are all words to describe these stories, but they are also a thoroughly good read, well imagined and beautifully told." - Atkinson Pryce Books - Book of the Moment Praise for Jean Rafferty's first novel, 'Myra, Beyond Saddleworth': "Compelling and disturbing in equal measure." - Deborah Orr, The Guardian. "Jean Rafferty is a remarkable writer with the bravery to explore the depths and the talent to take us there." - Louise Welsh, author of 'The Cutting Room'.

Longisted for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered prize 2015. "Powerful stories." - Marina Warner. Obsession, longing, deceit and even murder feature in this quartet of provocative novellas, which gives a modern twist to tales of women for whom all is not necessarily as it seems. Drawing on history, culture and lore, this is a riveting exploration of the complexities of motherhood: edgy and engrossing, moving, yet at times, disturbing.