The Mallens

Scandal runs in the family.

Catherine Cookson, one of the world's best-loved and most prolific authors, created the passionate saga about an ambitious, scandal-ridden dynasty in nineteenth century England.

Nothing good ever came of a Mallen. It is said that they're cursed and seldom reach old age or die in bed...and flamboyant, ruthless Thomas Mallen, current squire of High Banks Hall, is living up to that reputation. Brutal and ambitious, he is feared in the wild Northumberland country where he resides-along with the illegitimate children he has fathered, each of whom possesses a distinctive flash of white hair known as the Mallen Streak.

The squires taste for women, hunting and high living ultimately drives him and his family into financial ruin. Forced to live in a tiny cottage under severely reduced circumstances, he sinks into a violent, alcoholic haze and in one night, dooms his family forever.

The rest of the Mallen clan each plots to reclaim their former positions of wealth and power, resulting in murder, rape, deceit, suicide, forbidden love and madness.

The Mallens play a savage game of scandal, blind passion and betrayal that will touch three generations-and will only end in one final epic tragedy.