The Haunting of Hero's Bay – An Evening with Amanda Block

Gates & Bar Open: 6:00pm

Event Starts: 7:00pm

Event Ends:  9:00pm

*There will be an interval

‘The spirit of Daphne du Maurier is watching over this terrific novel’

- Catriona McPherson

The Book Loft is delighted to present an evening of myth and mystery with Amanda Block at The Straw Yard. Weaving together a story of writers, artists and ghosts, The Haunting of Hero’s Bay journeys between past and present to uncover the shadowy secrets of a seaside smuggling community. This is the perfect atmospheric read to send chills down your spine on a summer day.

About the book

The past will pull you under

1840: As a vast ship loses its way in the night-time mist, shattering against the cliffs of Crescombe, North Devon, a daring young artist dives into the murky sea. But it’s not for heroism he is risking it all: something – or someone – is drawing him into those dark, perilous waters . . .

Now: When Finley arrives in Crescombe for the summer, he suspects he’s not alone in his attic bedroom. Before long, he is uncovering secrets the remote seaside town has kept for almost two centuries: about ghosts and curses, about a ruthless old smuggling family, and about the young women whose bodies have washed up along the town’s rocky shoreline, just below his porthole window.

Yet the more Finley learns, the closer he’s bonded to those who have gone before him – and the closer he comes to meeting the same watery end…

About the author

Originally from Devon, Amanda Block moved to Edinburgh in 2007, where she attained a master’s degree in creative writing. Her work is often inspired by myths and fairy tales, which she uses as starting points to tell new stories. Amanda’s writing has been shortlisted in contests such as the Bridport Prize and the Mslexia Short Story competition. Her debut novel, The Lost Storyteller (Hodder), was published in 2021 and was a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month. Her second novel, The Haunting of Hero’s Bay (Hodder) a story of art and smuggling set in 19th century Devon, was published in 2025.

Amanda lives in Edinburgh with her young family and is working on her third novel.

Tickets can be booked via The Book Loft or The Straw Yard.