Product Description

A QUICK READ - part of the WORLD BOOK DAY 2009 literacy initiative for emergent readers. March 1928. Freddie Smith is on a motoring holiday in the mountains of south west France. He is caught in a violent storm and his car crashes. He is forced to seek shelter in a boarding house in the nearby village of Axat. There he meets another guest in the tiny hotel, a pale and beautiful young woman called Marie. As the storm rages outside, she explains how the region was ripped apart by wars of religion in the 14th century. She tells how, one terrible night in March 1328, all the inhabitants of Axat were forced to flee from the soldiers into the mountains. The villagers took refuge in a cave, but when the fighting was over, no one came back. Their bodies were never found. Axat itself became a ghost town. When Freddie wakes the following morning, Marie has gone. Worse still, his car will take several days to repair and he has to stay at the boarding house for a few days more. To pass the time, he explores the mountains. Then he realises it is almost 600 years to the day since the villagers disappeared. He decides to go and look for the cave himself. Perhaps, he thinks, he might even find Marie? It is a decision he will live to regret.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11487 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

Review
"An evocative story from this best-selling author" (WESTERN MAIL )

About the Author
Kate Mosse is the author of two non-fiction books and four novels, including the multi-million-selling international No 1 bestseller, LABYRINTH. The Co-Founder & Honorary Director of the Orange Prize for Fiction, Kate is also a guest presenter and reviewer for many TV and radio arts programmes. In 2006 she was awarded an Honorary Degree by the University of Chichester. Kate lives with her family in West Sussex and Carcassonne.

Customer Reviews

Unfair!
I feel the previous review of this book is unfair.
The 'quick read' series of books are aimed at attracting non-readers back into the joy of reading, or for those readers who like short stories and are existing fans of the author, or new ones who want a taste of their work.
I purchased this book as an avid fan of Kate Mosse knowing it was a 'short story' and on that basis I wasn't disappointed. However, it is a short read, and therefore lacks the depth of writing that we can expect from this author.
Kate Mosse is a beautiful,talented writer who draws you so much into her characters, you never want the books to end. You don't get that level of experience with this book as there is not the scope within a short story to develop this, which is why I feel it is unfair to compare this to her previous work.
I didn't feel it was disjointed - just a light read.
However.....a word of warning for all Kate Mosse fans! Do not buy this book if you intend to purchase The Winter Ghosts (currently available on pre-order). When I purchased 'The Cave' from Amazon.com there was no plot description. Having now read the synopsis for 'The Winter Ghosts', I was disappointed the storyline of 'The Cave' is the same (just a very short version!). I know 'The Winter Ghosts' will be in the same absorbing style and depth we have come to expect from this wonderfully talented writer.
I will definately purchase 'The Winter Ghosts' once I have put enough space between these two books.
There is nothing worse than looking forward to a really good read and already knowing the ending....!!

is this a joke !
this book really is a joke. it is as though the author has picked up unused bits from other books and put them together. i had no idea i was getting such a tiny read and a miniscule plot as well. it did not take long to read and put in the bin.

A very quick read
I know these small books are 'Quick-reads' but I read this within a couple of hours. I was slightly miffed that Kate Mosse had used this idea in such a short book, there was so much she could have made out of it!

I don't know if it's just me, but I think all Kate Mosse's books are just too similar. I know that this is her genre but I just wish she'd mix it up a little bit and surprise us! A good read non the less.