The Black Silk Purse

by Margaret Kaine

Sent to the workhouse as a child, all Ella Hathaway can remember is a voice whispering, ‘Dearie, promise me you will never forget what you saw. Your Ma was killed deliberate … and someone oughter pay for it.’



When young, wealthy spinster Letitia Fairchild witnesses Ella being ill-treated, she takes her in as a scullery maid. But as Ella grows up, she is determined to find the truth about her mother’s tragic death and appeals to Letitia for help, revealing the contents of her only personal possession, a black silk purse. Intrigued, Letitia agrees to begin a quest to solve the mystery of Ella’s past. But neither could have imagined the astonishing and dramatic consequences.



From the miseries of life in a London workhouse, to the splendour of a beautiful mansion, will Ella find the love and security she longs for?

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

Published October 18, 2018

About the author

Born and educated in the Potteries in Staffordshire, Margaret Kaine now lives in Eastbourne. Her short stories have been published widely in women’s magazines in the UK, Australia, Norway, South Africa and Ireland. Ring of Clay, her debut novel, won both the RNA’s New Writer’s Award in 2002 and the Society of Authors’ Sagittarius Prize in 2003. She has now published seven romantic sagas about life in the Potteries between the 50’s and 70’s; and Dangerous Decisions (Choc Lit), a romantic suspense. Two romantic historical novels followed, The Black Silk Purse, and A Life of Secrets. Translations include German and French and all details of her books can be found on her website -
www.margaretkaine.com

Reviews

[poppie · Rating 5 out of 5]

So enjoyed this book and was really sorry it had come to an end. Nice short chapters which seemed to make me read more. Have liked other novels of Margaret Kaine and this one was no exception. A lovely story.

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the sort of book which makes you read just a bit more... just another scene... just another chapter. The story has depth and pace, the characters are well-rounded and the mystery surrounding Ella's past kept me turning the pages. I'm not going to give away any spoilers, but I particularly liked the way the ending was handled. Plenty of historicals overlook the importance of social class, but Margaret Kaine has taken it into account and therefore the happy ending she has written has substance and credibility and rounds off a thoroughly enjoyable book in the best possible way.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite historical authors, Margaret Kaine never fails to delight! Elegantly written, with tantalising historical detail, her characters come to life so vividly they become friends and their story really touches the heart. Sometimes tales of those 'below stairs' come across as trite, never with this author. The intrigue, the unravelling of Ella's past is gripping and as the relationships with her employer, Letitia and love interest Rory, grow, the reader cares more and more about how the story will end.
A picture perfect tale of a delightful English summer, pinpointing a period of time that would so quickly be gone forever. A masterly storyteller, at the height of her game! A sequel please?

[Julia Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet, uncomplicated story I enjoyed reading. There were no great surprises and it was obvious what was going to happen. Even so it was a story that kept me reading to the last page. A well deserved four stars.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just could not put this book down, it is a lovely well written story which you do not want to end. In all the books by Margaret Kaine that I have read and I have never been disappointed. So this book is given 5 stars and a recommended read.

[Gerrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 out of 5 stars

[Sally Stackhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in England at the beginning of the 20th century, this novel is well written with a good pace and characterisation.

Ella, a workhouse orphan, is taken under the wing of a wealthy spinster, Letitia Fairchild, whose philanthropic work includes visiting the local workhouse several times a year an making a donation.

After leaving the workhouse Ella is employed as a scullery maid in Miss Fairchild’s household. She knows there is a secret about her birth and the circumstances that lead her to the workhouse.

As Ella matures into a young lady her past is disclosed gradually.

The minor characters are well rounded, descriptions of everyday life take the reader back in to past times.

A great read.

[Maisie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An historical novel with just the right amount of down on your luck, good people, scoundrels, chance meetings, binding friendships, romance and a hidden past culminating in a happy ever after ending. Likeable characters depicting society and culture of the era. Writing which ensures the reader will want to keep turning the pages in search of a good ending. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and would recommend it. Thank you to the author for offering this for free during our lockdown period as it was a temporary transportation away from reality.

[Karen Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the sweet stories Margaret Kaine tells!

[Elizabeth Cleland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book it was so interesting and different? Hope to read more from this author as so well written.

[Kim Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always somewhat wary of historical romances as they tend to be very samey. And while this one was predictable, it did have a nice story that kept my interest and I cared about the characters.

[Natalya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked this book but the conclusion was slightly unsatisfying - there wasn't any real justice for Ella's mother. The ending was sweet though and I enjoyed the descriptions of the household dynamics, particularly the relations between the people below stairs.

[Clare Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the third book I’ve read by Margaret Kaine and I enjoyed it enormously. In fact, unusually for me, it kept me awake way past my bedtime as I couldn’t put it down. Kaine is quite simply a master storyteller.
The Black Silk Purse interweaves the stories of Ella, a workhouse orphan, and Letitia, the wealthy spinster who takes her on as a servant. The evocation of the period (1903 to 1911) is vivid and these are characters to care about.
The sweetness is never cloying, the dialogue believable and the period details precise. My enjoyment of this delightful read was made more poignant as I finished the book and thought how just three years later the idyllic England Kaine paints and the happiness of her characters must of course be touched and shattered by the advent of war. Maybe a sequel?

[Little_Duckling · Rating 4 out of 5]

was nice, a little bit of a syrupy ending