Lying Prophets: A Novel

A white cottage perched on cliffs watches over Newlyn, a tight‑knit fishing village where slate roofs glint in the morning sun and the sea sighs against ancient breakwaters. Smoke curls from coal‑smudged chimneys, mingling with the salty perfume of drying pollocks, while orchards and hedgerows burst with blooming primroses and gorse. The narrow stone streets hum with daily life—children’s games, cats lounging on nets, and the steady rhythm of boats pulling in their colorful sails.

Amid this vivid tableau, the townsfolk wrestle with a quiet, unsettling belief: the “lying prophets” who claim to hear God in the hum of bees and the scent of flowers. As the season turns and the harbor buzzes with industry, a young woman finds herself questioning the sermons that blend nature with devotion, seeking truth beyond the comforting myths. Her journey begins at the edge of the harbor, where the promise of the sea meets the weight of old convictions.