A modern day Downton Abbey, set at Chatsworth House, England’s most famous stately home.
* A missing singer
* A doomed love story
* A family split by secrets & lies
1967: Enigmatic young folk singer Molly Marrison disappears on the cusp of fame.
2002: Silva is working as a housemaid at Chatsworth House when her father suddenly dies, leaving her with one instruction – find Molly. The only clue is a haunting song, centuries old, that Molly recorded before she vanished. Silva needs the help of song collector, Robbie Nightingale. Silva and Robbie were teenage sweethearts, but they’ve not spoken for decades. If they try to find Molly, what else will they discover?
Romantic, meticulously observed, historically fascinating and musically, highly literate. Fiona Mountain understands everything about the fine folk art of storytelling. The Keeper of Songs is a wonderful tale, exquisitely told, showing a deep empathy with the landscape of the Peak District and the traditional music that has emanated from it. Fiona creates a world of romance, detail and heartfelt emotion. – BBC Radio Presenter and writer, Mark Radcliffe
The depth of Fiona’s research for this book, is evident in her thoughtful and magical portrayal of the stories deep within our old songs. She is a natural diviner of the worlds that dwell within them, both real and fictional and she has created a novel that reveals more secrets than one knew a song could ever keep. – Sam Lee, Author of The Nightingale, Notes on a Songbird
With such a lightness of touch and meticulous attention to detail, surely Fiona Mountain must have cleaned the chandeliers of Chatsworth in a former life? The Keeper of Songs is a well crafted and heart-rending tale of love and loss woven skillfully across multiple generational divides, and throughout, her love for Chatsworth and the beautiful Peak District shines through. A gripping read; I loved it! – Christine Robinson, Author of Chatsworth, the Housekeeper’s Tips, Tales & Tipples
It’s been a great pleasure to read The Keeper of Songs, and I know it’s a book that will stay with me for a long time. Fiona Mountain’s own fascination with the power and resonance of music and folklore is evident as the threads of the story slowly weave together, and the lost lives and lost loves, the secrets and lies, the misunderstandings and the regrets, resolve themselves – though not without grief – into a satisfying conclusion. Her meticulous research takes us from the depths of the caves of Castleton to the majesty of Chatsworth House, but it’s folk music that drives the narrative – the ancient songs, telling tales of tragedy and true love, that generations of singers have kept alive to this day. – Jane Sanderson, Author of Mix Tape