Colin II: A Novel

The story opens on a sun‑bleached terrace of the great Stanier house, its yew‑hedge and lake‑filled dam looming over three centuries of unbroken prosperity. The narrator traces the rise of Colin Stanier, a shepherd‑boy who saved Queen Elizabeth I and, according to family lore, later sealed a pact with Satan that promised wealth and honor to his descendants. The portrait of the original Colin still bears the blood‑stained signature, a reminder that the family's fortunes may rest on a darker bargain.

As the present generation moves through the shadowed corridors and manicured lawns, they confront the weight of that ancient contract. Questioning whether the legend is mere myth or a living threat, they grapple with loyalty, ambition, and the uneasy sense that history is watching. The novel balances eerie atmosphere with sharp social observation, inviting listeners to ponder how far a family will go to protect its legacy.