The Story Collector

From the million-copy Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop!

In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything…

One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life.

In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

With a taste for the magical in everyday life, Evie Woods's latest novel is full of ordinary characters with extraordinary tales to tell.

Praise for The Story Collector:

'An engaging story about unsettled grief…the possibility that magic and the fairies are real is dangled tantalisingly before the reader, but not in a way that might make a sceptic roll their eyes' Historical Novel Society

'Woods weaves a great tale of past, present and that timeless other realm, making for a very satisfying read' Sunday Independent

Readers have fallen in love with The Story Collector:

‘I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction and want to learn more about Ireland and its folklore history surrounding the faeries.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Romantic and magical, an adventure to be enjoyed.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Painted beautifully.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A bewitching story which I will treasure.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A mystical treasure that echoes with the fairy world power of Ireland. A mesmerising tale told in two timelines where the past unfolds and ripples like a wave into the future.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This is the perfect book to read on a winter afternoon in front of the fire.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A delightful tale of love and loss and magical stories.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Previously published as The Story Collector by Evie Gaughan.

Reviews

‘The writing has an uplifting side reflecting on the importance of love, family and friends helping relieve trauma across generations.’ Historical Novel Society

About the author

Evie Woods is the international bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop, which has sold over a million copies globally, and has been translated into over thirty languages. Shortlisted for the 2024 British Book Awards “Page-Turner of the Year,” it has also become a Sunday Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Spiegel bestseller.

Influenced by folklore and magical realism, Evie has carved out a unique style that is all her own, charming readers around the world with her warm and uplifting narratives. Drawing inspiration from the unseen forces that shape our lives and the healing power of storytelling, novels like The Story Collector and The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris invite the reader to embrace the magic that already exists in our ordinary lives. Evie's new novel, The Violin Maker's Secret, is perfect for those who love music, mystery and magic!