The Prisoner's Apprentice (Kobo eBook)

Description

HUCK FINN MEETS PROFESSOR MORIARTY

The award-winning novel based on the shocking true story of serial killer Edward Rulloff and his young protégé.

Albert is a bright boy—a quality much despised in 1846 Ithaca, a gritty town at the edge of New York's frontier. Desperate to belong, he fails repeatedly to prove himself worth his salt, until a captivating stranger offers a new future—that of a respectable scholar in New York City. His new mentor, however, is Edward Rulloff, an accomplished physician, lawyer, linguist fluent in 27 languages—and serial killer.

Soon caught up in an epic test of loyalty and betrayal, Albert must wrestle with the meaning of justice, and decide for himself whether Rulloff is a genius or a madman—all while trying to survive his thrilling, shameful, and dangerous adventures.

Based on the true story that riveted the 19th-century world, THE PRISONER'S APPRENTICE won the 2022 IRDA Historical Fiction Award, was an Eric Hoffer Finalist, and was awarded an Indie BRAG Medallion. A must-read for anyone who enjoys Erik Larson, Lindsay Faye or Robert McCammon.

"THE PRISONER'S APPRENTICE grabbed me on page one and swept me up into a rich tapestried world of mystery and intrigue that kept me turning page after page well into the night. Cheyenne Richards writes with such clarity and beauty that this novel cartwheels along, raising questions, and opening up a world that is sure to delight book clubs."

— Lolly Winston, New York Times bestselling author

"This novel marks the debut of a gifted new writer. In THE PRISONER'S APPRENTICE, Cheyenne Richards tells the astonishing story of a young boy who befriends a brilliant murderer in 1846. She writes with a fresh voice that is both energetic and engaging. The story is part thriller, part psychological study — and completely riveting storytelling."

— Ellen Sussman, New York Times bestselling author