What The Monk Didn't See

by Emma Batten

"There's dark deeds happening tonight. Pray for your family and the town."
"Pray for Romney?"
"Aye, the town. Cinque port, sunk port. That's what I hear over and over. It rings in my ears and fills me with terror."
"It makes no sense to me," Matilda stated. "But I'll pray nonetheless. There's a storm brewing, and damage will be done before the night has passed."

The year is 1287 and yet another storm has hit the Kent coast. The town of Romney is under threat and its people battle to save their homes and livelihoods. A travelling monk, whose quest is to record the lives of people living in coastal towns, sets out to watch the storm from the church tower. From his vantage point, the monk believes he can see all that happens in Romney that night. But as the storm ravages the town and its fortunes are changed forever, what didn't the monk see?

260 pages, Paperback

Published November 3, 2021

About the author

I am a truly local author. Living in and writing about Romney Marsh means I can fully engage in the history of the area and connect with my readers. I learn about an event or custom – the great storm which changed the coastline, the body of a monk being secretly carried across the marsh, magical qualities associated with hagstones – and use these to create a whole novel. Fictional characters are put in recognisable settings as we follow the story of their lives. The eras range from the 7th to the 20th century, giving me an opportunity to explore so much of our history through writing. That local feel to my books now extends to them having distinctive covers with original artwork by artists from Greatstone and New Romney, making the books even more special for me.

Reviews

[Nathalie Marnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping story, love the historical fact in this one.

[Ali Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. My favourite. Great storyline, characters to get your teeth into, and description so vivid you can see it all before your eyes.