The Devil Comes to Dartmoor: The Haunting True Story of Mary Howard, Devon's 'Demon Bride'

by Laura Quigley

Many will have heard of the ghostly white lady haunting Tavistock—the notorious Mary Howard, accused of murdering her four husbands. A few may know the true story of her lover, George Cutteford, a Plymouth "cutty man" who became a Puritan lawyer. Cutteford was imprisoned in the horror of Lydford Gaol, persecuted by Mary's fourth husband—Sir Richard Grenville, the most notorious and sadistic royalist General of the Civil War. But fewer still will know the secrets George Cutteford died to protect—secrets that would destroy his own family; end Grenville’s career in shame; and make a boy with no name the richest landowner in Devon. Gathered from the varying historical accounts, and including primary material unearthed, hundreds of years ago, in an old fish market in London, comes this haunting true story of love, treachery, and revenge in seventeenth-century Devon.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History

208 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

I'm a full-time writer still in 'struggling' mode, but things are looking up. I live in Devon with my partner and two wonderful kids and two cats who all interrupt me a lot!

I've written for theatre and won awards, for film and studied screenplay writing, articles for magazines, and local history. And now I'm launching my first fiction books with http://www.forelock-books.co.uk and the work has been wonderful. Always great to work collaboratively with enthusiastic people.

So there's a lot more on the way, more heart and soul to be poured out onto the page, and hopefully the readers will enjoy the new books.

Reviews

[Peter Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the book is ostensibly about unpicking the truth behind the ghostly legend of Mary Howard “Devon’s Demon Bride”, as a British civil wars buff I became much more interested once the story began to edge into the 1640s and the dirty dealings of her husband and Royalist commander Sir Richard Grenville. Nevertheless this is a great tale no matter which of these two characters takes your interest most. SPOILERS NEXT – in a nutshell the book’s conclusion is Mary isn’t, and wasn’t, a demon but Richard very much was a wretch….

[Michele Brenton]

I haven't read this yet but I am itching to do so after reading the note on the History Press facebook page The Devil Comes to Dartmoor - by Laura Quigley

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was awesome, the only reason it didn't get a five is because sometimes you can't see the story for all the outside historical facts. Interesting facts but to much for such a small book. I wanted more about the mains.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book wasn't what I expected, but I really enjoyed it, it was an excellent compact History Lesson, I had forgotten how bloody and unruly the civil war had been. I will probably read it again...

[Torben Gunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic read

[JulianL · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mainly chose this book as I'm interested in Dartmoor, but there is very little information about Dartmoor in here. It mostly covers the civil war period in Devon in general.