In 1860s London, Arthur sees his wife, Emily, suddenly struck down by a pain for which she can find no words, forced to endure harmful treatments, and reliant on him for guidance. Meanwhile, in contemporary Perth, Alice, a writer, and her older husband, Duncan, find their marriage threatened as Alice investigates the history of hysteria, female sexuality, and the treatment of the female body—her own and the bodies of those who came before.
As Alice uncovers the shocking practices of Victorian medicine, she begins to question her own identity and the nature of her relationship with Duncan. Will Alice find a way to heal herself and her marriage, or will the secrets of the past consume them both? Eye of a Rook is a gripping historical fiction that explores the enduring power of the female body and the search for self-discovery.