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‘Dazzling, chilling, moving and original . . . I loved it’ CHRIS WHITAKER
‘A captivating novel of love and loss and the lengths we will go to start again’ SOPHIE WARD
‘A beautifully crafted mystery that asks if we ever truly get a second chance’ CATRIONA SILVEY
‘Unique and utterly unforgettable’ LOUISE BEECH
‘Full of mystery and tension, with clever twists and reveals, all building to a surprising yet satisfying ending’ PHILIPPA EAST

Welcome to Atlas. What would you do for a second chance?

Summer 1982. Deep in the Adirondack Mountains, over three hundred people live off-grid in a secret community. Atlas is a refuge for broken souls who long for a different life. Founded by the enigmatic Sol, the group now prepares for their final ceremony: the opening of the Golden Door. They believe they will cross to another world, to a new life where their past decisions never ended in tragedy.

James Morrow is a rookie New York City reporter intent on making his name with an exposé of the crazy cult in the woods. He secures an invitation to the camp on the condition he tell the world of its wonders, but James is a sceptic. He’s sure there must be more to the mysterious leader and his endgame than his followers have signed up for.

James soon finds there is a darker side to the cult beyond the prayers and yellow robes. A group of children are treated like gods, there are iron strips embedded in the earth, and nobody talks about what’s behind the gates of Sol’s private sanctuary. As James learns the stories of the members and how they came to be there, he begins to understand the desperate nature of their beliefs – a desperation he knows all too well.

As the final ceremony draws near, James must ask himself: what will it cost them to reach this other life? And is that a price he’s willing to pay?

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
‘I would give this book ten stars if I could . . . Incredibly clever . . . Heartbreakingly perfect’
‘This was an incredible read . . . I loved it’
‘Beth Lewis never fails to grab my attention and hold it for every single bit of every single page of her books. This one was no different’
‘A really interesting, gripping read’

One woman. Two lives. How far will she go to find herself?

*WILD MEETS SLIDING DOORS IN THE UNFORGETTABLE NEW NOVEL FROM BETH LEWIS*

On the outside, Iris and Claude have a perfect marriage, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. One terrible night Claude’s abuse goes too far and Iris flees into the Catskill mountains.

In the wilderness, Iris comes face to face with another version of herself. A woman who never met Claude and seemingly made all the right choices in life.

Trapped by an oncoming storm, Iris must uncover why they are there, what it means, and if the other Iris is even real. As the storm hits, the truth of what happened that fateful night will change everything.

An important, searing novel about one woman’s journey in fleeing an abusive relationship and confronting the secrets of her past. Author of the critically-acclaimed debut The Wolf Road, Beth Lewis returns with her brand new novel The Origins of Iris where Wild meets Sliding Doors.

‘Evocative and unexpected, tender and fierce, The Origins of Iris is unlike any other thriller I’ve read in years . . . Outstanding’ Sarah Hilary

‘A tale of wonder, heart-break and mystery, beautifully told. Loved every word’ Emma Haughton

‘This novel is like a dream, from the haunting narrative to the beautiful prose to the way Iris and her wilderness kept making their way into my subconscious at night. It is everything I could want from a book’ Anna Bailey

‘I opened my eyes and the woman wearing my face opened hers at the same time.’

Iris flees New York City, and her abusive wife Claude, for the Catskill Mountains. When she was a child, Iris and her father found solace in the beauty and wilderness of the forest; now, years later, Iris has returned for time and space to clear her head, and to come to terms with the mistakes that have led her here. But what Iris doesn’t expect in her journey of survival and self-discovery is to find herself – literally.

Trapped in a neglected cabin deep in the mountains, Iris is grudgingly forced to come face to face with a seemingly prettier, happier and better version of herself. Other Iris made different choices in life and love. But is she all she seems? Can she be trusted? What is she hiding?

As a storm encroaches, threatening both their lives, time is running out for them to discover why they have been brought together, and what it means for their futures.

Author of the critically-acclaimed debut The Wolf Road, Beth Lewis returns with her brand new novel The Origins of Iris where Wild meets Sliding Doors. An important, searing novel about one woman’s journey in fleeing an abusive relationship and confronting the secrets of her past.

Real readers have been captivated by The Origins of Iris:

‘A truly unique book that tackles some sensitive topics head on . . . incredibly thought provoking’

‘It will stay with me for a long time’

‘A captivating and powerful read that touches on notions of self-discovery and survival as well as hope and optimism and explores serious themes bravely and sympathetically’

‘A solid 5 star read . . . Haunting, poignant and human’

‘One of the best books I have read this year’

‘A raw, emotionally charged story that will grip you from start to finish’