The Fisherrow fishwives were a magnificent breed: stoic, hard-working, bold, brave women. Their lives are celebrated at the John Gray Centre, Haddington, and I am grateful to their archivists.

Massive thanks to the booksellers and bloggers and writers and reviewers who have helped make a vibrant and supportive community around what can often be a solitary craft. And to the Women’s Prize Trust, for all the work it does to promote women’s writing.

Thank you to my family: Dad, Frances, Harry, Simon, Jane, Sophie, Jasmine, and to Tom and Ruby who make me proud every day. And to Mum, who is in everything I do.

To Paul, who always knows what to do for the best, and to my friends, who are more like family and inspire me with their love and warmth and joy: Sarah, Lesley, Cara, Fiona, Alison, Linda.

To Nikki, with whom I have been friends friends for longer than anyone and with whom I share the most treasured memories.

And to Denise Verth, a bold, brave woman who was fascinated by Scotland and its history and its bold, brave women.

About the Author

Kate Foster worked as a national newspaper journalist for more than twenty years before becoming an author. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. Her previous novels include The Maiden, which won the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year and was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and The King’s Witches. The Mourning Necklace is her third novel. She lives in Edinburgh with her two children.

Also by Kate Foster

Also by Kate Foster

The Maiden

The King’s Witches

Click here to discover Kate’s prize-winning debut novel, THE MAIDEN

Click here to read Kate’s bewitching second novel, THE KING’S WITCHES