
Maska srama
A classic of female British thriller, Mask of Shame (1994), by the author of the popular novel The Sculptor, is a dark psychological thriller about manipulation, family secrets and the limits of human cruelty.
Mathilda Gillespie, an eccentric and vicious old woman from a small English town, is found dead in her bathtub: her veins slit, an empty bottle of sleeping pills, and a metal cage on her head – a medieval “mask of shame” decorated with nettles and daisies. Is it suicide or murder?
Doctor Sarah Blakeney, Mathilda’s confidant, and detective Jack Shaylor enter the vortex of the investigation. Housewife Jenny Spede, obsessed with curiosity, reads Mathilda’s diaries, revealing layers of the past: the greed of the heir, lust, violence and trauma that shaped Mathilda’s cruelty. Each character hides lies, and the truth is revealed through unpredictable twists.
The novel explores how words and memories become weapons, criticizing patriarchal norms and the psychological consequences of abuse. Walters, a master of suspense, builds the story through multiple perspectives, making it irresistible for crime fiction fans.
Two copies are available