Can a long-kept secret ruin the future happiness of two families?
Paisley, Scotland 1745
Meg and Duncan Montgomery move to the flourishing Scottish town of Paisley to find work in the thriving weaving industry. Soon, Meg is expecting their first child, Margaret.
To make ends meet, they live in Peter Toddâs household, Duncanâs employer and Megâs days are filled with domestic duties. But soon Meg and Duncan find themselves caught up in the intricate lives of the Todd family and when a tragic accident causes further conflict, a decision is made to keep a terrible secret from Meg.
As Margaret grows older, she despairs of the townâs inequality and becomes an advocate for the poor. While her philanthropic ideals are tolerated, even accepted by her understanding parents, Margaretâs affection for her childhood friend William Todd is greeted with disapproval.
But Margaret wants more from life than marriage and is overjoyed when she is taken on as a teacher at the local hospital.
As a dark secret from the past looms over the lives of both families,threatening to tear apart their futures, the younger Todds and Montgomeryâs must decide between following in their parentsâ footsteps or forging their own paths
The start of The Paisley Women saga series from Evelyn Hood, the original bestselling Scottish saga writer.
Previously published in paperback as The Silken Thread
PRAISE FOR EVELYN HOOD
'Compelling from the start, heartfelt and beautifully written.' - Rosie Clarke
'If you like Catherine Cookson, youâll love Evelyn Hoodâs books.â - Lizzie Lane
âEvelyn Hoodâs characters step off the page and into your heart.â - Sheila Riley
âThis is addictive and heartfelt storytelling, with colourful characters you'll never want to say goodbye to.â - Jane Lark
''Loved the strong, relatable characters. A lively, refreshing read.' - Kate Eastham
'Wonderfully descriptive, with memorable characters and a true sense of place.' - Tracy Baines
'Faultless historical detail and emotionally complex characters makethese engrossing and intelligent Evelyn Hood's sagas deeply satisfying' - Maisie Thomas
âEvocative, beautifully rich, brilliantly detailed and meticulously researched - this story transported me and kept me up way past my bedtime - a triumph of a story. I very highly recommend Evelyn Hoodâ â Renita DâSilva
'Scotland's Catherine Cookson' - Scots Magazine
âHood is immaculate in her historical detailâ - Scottish Herald
'Quite simply, I couldn't put it down. A rich and rewarding read' - Emma Blair
'Evelyn Hood has been called Scotland's Catherine Cookson. Unfair. She has her own distinctive voice' - Scots Magazine
âTouching, romantic and unforgettableâ - Reader Review
âLove all her booksâ - Reader Review
âEvelyn Hood produces the best of storiesâ - Reader Review
âI cannot put her books downâ - Reader Review
âLove everything Evelyn Hood writesâ - Reader Review
âEvelyn Hood is a fantastic writer, bringing the past to life and drawing you right into the storyâ - Reader Review
Sunday Times bestselling author, Evelyn Hood was best known for her Scottish family sagas set in her hometown of Paisley (Renfrewshire) and on the Clyde Coast, where she also lived. Her seven-volume Priorâs Ford books are set in a modern-day fictitious village in Dumfries and Galloway. Throughout her distinguished career, she published more than 40 novels, numerous short stories, as well as plays, pantomimes, musicals, and poems. She also authored "Forward by Degrees," a commissioned history of the University of Paisley, and "Mill Memories; Interviews with Former Employees of Paisley's Thread Mills," which preserves the legacy of the townâs textile industry. A former journalist, Evelyn wrote under several pen names, including Eve Houston, Elizabeth A. Webster, Louise James, and Evelyn Steel. Passionate about literature and the arts, Evelyn frequently adjudicated competitions, gave public readings, and mentored emerging writers. She was also deeply involved in amateur dramatics in Paisley, directing musicals and plays. Evelyn Hood passed away in Ayrshire in 2023, but the legacy of her writing continues, inspiring a generation of saga writers and touching readerâs hearts worldwide.