Lady or the Tiger
Will be published approx. on 10. June 2025
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-1-9848-1673-3 (ISBN)
Description
Summer 1886 - When nineteen-year-old Belle King turns herself in for murder, the last thing she expects to see is her abusive husband Reginald standing outside her Dodge City jail cell, impossibly alive. He's there to take her back, but Belle is not going without a fight. Reginald was the first man she ever meant to kill, but certainly not the last . . .
Now, while there are still bars between them, Belle is forced to resort to all the tricks in her arsenal to prevent her husband from ever being in control of her again. But in the 1880s, the last soul anyone will believe is a girl - even when she confesses to her own crimes.
With the seductive horror of a fairy tale, Lady or the Tiger is the dark, twisty story of how one mountain girl from Kentucky became the wickedest woman in the Wild West and an ode to girls with tigers in their hearts who can save themselves.
Now, while there are still bars between them, Belle is forced to resort to all the tricks in her arsenal to prevent her husband from ever being in control of her again. But in the 1880s, the last soul anyone will believe is a girl - even when she confesses to her own crimes.
With the seductive horror of a fairy tale, Lady or the Tiger is the dark, twisty story of how one mountain girl from Kentucky became the wickedest woman in the Wild West and an ode to girls with tigers in their hearts who can save themselves.
Reviews / Votes
Praise for Lady or the Tiger:A 2025 Booklist Editor's Choice Pick
A 2025 MSTA Reading Circle Best New Books for Missouri Students Reading List Pick (Missouri)
A 2026 Rise: A Feminist Book Project List Pick
A 2026 Kansas Notable Book Award Winer
A 2026-2027 Volunteer State Book Award Nominee (Tennessee)
? "Herrman has created a rare kind of book: a twist-filled murder mystery dressed up in leather boots, spurs, and a cowboy hat. . . The writing is compelling and visceral, with a multitude of colorful, complex characters, including the ferocious, canny protagonist. For readers who enjoy a propulsive narrative, this is a special one indeed. -Booklist, starred review
? "A dark, compelling exploration of Alice's dreams pitted against men's demands on her. . . The swiftly paced writing is intriguing, pulsing with danger and desire. . . Full of constant twists and turns of love and terror. . . A very strong first buy." -School Library Journal, starred review
"An evocative, ferocious exploration of darkness and truth-this one will come at you with a roar and stay with you long after the final page." -Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper
"Herrman's sophisticated exploration of the impact of men's abuse of power are chilling . . . but Belle's individual strength and continued resistance prove inspirational. The nonlinear timeline enhances the larger-than-life vignettes that are reminiscent of tall tales, maintaining a quick pace and adding tension to each dramatic beat. . . Intense hardship and adventure compellingly intertwine in this Old West feminist journey." -Kirkus
Praise for The Corpse Queen:
A 2023 Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee
A 2022 YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Pick
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
? "Stylishly smart and macabre, the story . . . sparkle[s] with class-defying friendships and warmth. Part mystery, part thriller, and part family discovery, this is a delicious horror story from which the reader can't look away." -Booklist, starred review
"This historical thriller is dark, twisty, and perfect for a spooky fall read." -Buzzfeed
"Dark. Glittering. Dangerous. The Corpse Queen is deliciously macabre and utterly decadent. Like a well-placed scalpel, Molly's sharp mind and cool determination in a male-dominated world will slip under your skin and snip at your heartstrings. A cinematic story cleverly plotted and intoxicatingly addictive; I gulped it down in one sitting." -Kerri Maniscalco, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Stalking Jack the Ripper
"The plot rockets along, greased by the rot of the dead, to a satisfying, and somewhat surprising, conclusion. If Poe's daughter told a story, this might be it." -Kirkus Reviews
"Dripping with Gothic decadence and dark romantic allure, this novel hits all the right notes. . . It's a must-read." -Hypable
"A historical mystery that will give you goosebumps." -Pop Sugar
"Smartly written with a decidedly dark demeanor . . . this immersive, Frankenstein-tinged novel considers misogyny, socioeconomic divides, and social norms at a specific moment in modern surgery's beginnings." -Publishers Weekly
"A wonderfully macabre thriller that mines considerable tension and chills from the grotesqueries and disturbing lack of ethics in nineteenth-century medical inquiry, leaning as much on various characters' utter lack of compassion as on blood and guts for its horror. Molly is appealing in her complexity . . . [and] as taken by new science as any clever girl would be. . . A winner for fans of Bray's Diviner series." -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Set in 1850s Philadelphia, this macabre novel is full of death, corpses, and anomalies. It highlights the dark practice of body snatching that was historically used to study anatomy. The writing is fast paced and highlights Molly and her aunt as independent feminists. The dark plot flows well with a surprise ending, keeping readers intrigued. . . A great YA addition to libraries serving high school students, this gothic fiction title will appeal to young adult fans of the horror genre." -School Library Journal
"Full of scares and surprises." -Girls' Life
"[For] fan[s] of the dark and macabre. . . [and] stories that dig into the earthy underbelly of society." -MuggleNet
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Penguin Putnam Inc
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: Seventh Grade and over, Interest Age: From 12 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 212 mm
Width: 144 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
424 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-9848-1673-3 (9781984816733)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Heather Herrman's fiction blends beauty and the macabre. She loves prairie winds, tales of wicked women, and landscapes that look like they could eat you. She holds an MFA in fiction from New Mexico State University and is an active member of the Horror Writers Association. Heather currently lives outside Dallas, Texas.