The Yellow-Tail Moth
A riveting, fast-paced drama about two women, their hidden secrets, their friendship and the power of nature to heal
Lily is forced to flee her pristine London home to escape reporters who are hounding her because of accusations levelled against her husband. She hides away in a rundown cottage in a small Derbyshire village. She is deeply unhappy. She hates the countryside, the dirt, the smells and most of all the creepy woodland next to the cottage.
Desperately lonely, Lily tries to befriend her neighbour Kathy, a naturalist and a recluse who the villagers think is unhinged. Although resistant at first, Kathy gradually mellows as Lily starts to share her interest in nature. A surprising connection develops between the two women.
Then a young teenager goes missing from the village and all fingers point at Kathy. Tensions escalate rapidly.
Lily defends Kathy against the villagers but when disturbing accusations are made about Kathy’s past, Lily is determined to uncover the truth.
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Editorial Reviews
“I was gripped from the outset. Unlikely friendships, the healing power of nature, the danger of judgementalism, the goodness of people, all wrapped up in a fascinating story.”
— Fiona Curnow, Author of Before the Swallows Come Back
“Not just a gripping mystery, The Yellow-Tailed Moth by Margot Shepherd manages to weave wonder from the smallest wings and the strangest corners of the human psyche. A gem of a book, one that leaves you breathless but also one to make you fall in love with noticing.”
— Stephen May, Author of Sell Us the Rope
What Readers Say
“An atmospheric book of mystery and friendship. I read Margot Shepherd’s previous book ‘Never Closer’ which I thoroughly enjoyed, so was keen to read her new book. It didn’t disappoint - again beautifully written but, this time, with such evocative description of the country cottage garden and the two cottages themselves with their traumatised inhabitants. This is a story of mystery and friendship and, ultimately, an understanding of the psychological pressures when life goes badly wrong. A great read.”
— Amazon review ★★★★★
“Deserves a 5★★★★★++ rating. Such a lovely story. Such beautifully descriptive language when talking about nature, gardens, plants and bugs. Women supporting women.”
— Goodreads review ★★★★★
“Unique story of friendship, dealing with crisis and coming out more whole. Two women meet, one an avid collector of unusual insects, the other a woman seeking solace in the midst of a crisis. What they learn from each other, and from life.”
— Amazon review ★★★★★
“Weaving nature and crime in a modern mystery story. A lovely second novel from Margot Shepherd. For fans of 'cosy crime'; enough suspense and mystery to keep you reading and a delightful thread of nature running through the whole novel. I loved learning about different species of insects and other garden creatures and this theme was woven skillfully through each chapter. Both of Margot's novels have had a feminist touch, which I really appreciated. She handles emotional intimacy with ease and explores intricate relationships in a reflective way.”
— Amazon review ★★★★★
“Great story line. I loved all the connections to flowers and insects. Lots of science imbedded in the story.”
— Goodreads review ★★★★★
“A unique story! I thoroughly enjoyed this one. From the outset I was intrigued to find out what he had done, then, what she had done. The use of wildlife as a lead-in to each chapter added another level of intrigue, and I found myself looking forward to see what was going to be used in the next chapter and how it was going to be integrated into the story. I loved it! Highly recommend!”
— Amazon review ★★★★★
“This enjoyable book deserves 5 stars. Excellent descriptions of English village life, nature and countryside. There is emotional depth without hyperbole, a good balance of mystery and character exploration. The technical details seem very well researched. I found myself looking forward to each chapter as the story unfolded and the lead characters developed. Moreover, there are a number of themes and issues in the book which are ripe for a group discussion. Very enjoyable indeed.”
— Goodreads review ★★★★★
“A page turner but also one to savour more slowly. I loved this book. A story of two women with mystery attached, one in the present, the other in the past, interwoven with beautiful details of insects, landscape and wildlife. I found myself totally drawn into their lives and keen to turn the pages to find out what happens and what happened in the past.”
— Amazon review ★★★★★
Inspiration for The Yellow-Tail Moth
My initial inspiration for Kathy’s story came from the lockdowns during the Covid pandemic. My world shrank to that of my house and garden and I began to imagine what it would be like to be a recluse. I have always been a keen gardener, but I became much more observant and interested in the insects that were inhabiting my shrunken world. I read in a newspaper about Jennifer Owen, a zoologist who monitored all the wildlife in her English garden over thirty years. She recorded 2,673 species which included anything from plants to animals. She monitored huge numbers of insects including butterflies and moths. Her research gave me the idea that Kathy could do something similar in her garden, a project to help her deal with her past.
Lily’s story was also inspired by a story in the media about a woman whose husband was arrested. She was hounded by the press, even though she herself had done nothing wrong. I began to imagine how uncomfortable that must be and how I might react to it. In the novel she runs away to a rental cottage next door to Kathy, surrounded by countryside which she hates. By putting her into a place where she was uncomfortable, it became interesting to see how she coped and how her character developed as a result of the situation she was in. I found a yellow-tail moth in my house just after I had started writing the story and immediately included it in the novel. It seemed a perfect way to bring the two characters together.
Book Group Questions
How would you react if you were being hounded by the press. Would you escape like Lily does?
Did you empathise with Kathy, or do you think she antagonised the villagers by shutting herself away?
Which character did you relate to the most and why?
Plants and insects are woven through the novel. Did you find this added to the story?
How did the setting contribute to the plot?
One of the themes of the novel was loneliness. Could you relate to Lily and Kathy’s feelings about aloneness?
Justice and truth are another important theme. Do they relate to any current major news stories?
Did the reveal about Kathy’s past change your view of her?
What was the most memorable part of the novel for you and why?
Why do you think the author chose The Yellow-Tail Moth as the title?