"The footsteps grew louder, and now Mary could make out the dim figure of a man advancing towards her. What was he doing on that lonely stretch of road on a dark, inclement night? It seemed impossible that he was an innocent traveller, however much she wished he might be. His tread was too cautious, almost furtive, and he was carrying something... it looked like an unlighted lantern. Surely an honest man would not choose to travel in the dark?"

The UK edition of Rose's novel, The Blackstone Key, hits the shelves on Thursday.