Hear No Evil: Shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger (Paperback)

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Glasgow, 1817. Jean Campbell, a young Deaf woman, is accused of a terrible crime after witnesses claim she threw a child from the Old Bridge into the River Clyde. If found guilty, she faces execution or a lifetime confined in an asylum. Unable to hear the charges against her or speak in her own defence, Jean is dangerously alone.

The authorities turn to Robert Kinniburgh, a teacher from the city’s Deaf and Dumb Institution, to help interrogate her. What begins as a duty becomes something far more complex. Through patience and careful experimentation, Robert and Jean begin to communicate, building understanding where none existed before.

As trust grows, Jean reveals what truly happened on the bridge. The truth challenges everything the court believes it knows. With time running out, Robert must act quickly to protect Jean and ensure justice is done.

A powerful historical novel exploring language, isolation and compassion in a world shaped by fear and prejudice.