Kit, a work-obsessed literature student, decides on a whim to go to a dance class. And for a while it looks as if Joe, the shadowy figure she meets there, may tempt her to put her books aside and live a little. But as Joes world becomes increasingly threatening and Kits research leads her to stumble on a complex historical mystery, she is faced with a choice. should she hide away in her studies or make a leap of faith that could change her existence forever? The Twisted Heart is both a hugely enjoyable novel about the challenges of love and a startling exploration of previously unrecognized links between the young Charles Dickens and the deranged murder of a prostitute known as The Countess. Brilliantly weaving these threads together, The Twisted Heart confirms Gowers as one of the most exciting writers in Britain today.