From the dust of a forgotten age, an ancient evil lives on.

Dr. Hugh Strickland is the director of a mental clinic. As a leading psychologist he sees many a sort of patient. But when a fellow doctor refers Noreen Pemberton to him, he isn’t prepared for what is to come.

Noreen appears – to a psychologist’s mind – to have a second personality: Ayesha. However, another patient in the facility goes into convulsions every time she goes under hypnosis, suggesting a parapsychological connection between the two. Strickland also recalls the name Ayesha to be familiar, and uncovers the old legend of She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed – a priestess of the ancient Mother of Mysteries, whose story had become a terrifying legend.

Her body had perished thousands of years ago — but her spirit was immortal, and she had sworn that one day she would return to wreak vengeance on those who had destroyed her.
Dr Hugh Strickland didn’t believe in archaic legends. But when Noreen Pemberton was admitted to his psychiatric clinic, he was forced to rethink all his long-held beliefs. For another personality was fighting for possession of Noreen’s body.

As the invading spirit grew stronger, Strickland realized that he was dealing with something beyond his power to control — and that knowledge put him in deadly danger. Ayesha was rising — to fulfil her legend and to live again!

Praise for Peter Tremayne

“Mesmeric stuff.” – The Times

‘Tremayne is an absolutely gorgeous read, especially on a dark winter’s night . . .’ – Dublin Sunday Press

‘Peter Tremayne is established as one of Britain’s leading horror fantasy writers.’ – Retail Newsagent

‘He brings to the writing of fantasy detail and dedication . . . scrupulous skill . . .’ – Space Voyager

Peter Tremayne is the fiction writing pseudonym of the Celtic scholar and author Peter Berresford Ellis. Peter Berresford Ellis is a historian, literary biographer and novelist who has published over 90 books to date under his own name and that of his pseudonyms Peter Tremayne and Peter MacAlan. He has also published 95 short stories. His non-fiction books, articles and academic papers have made him acknowledged as one of the foremost authorities on Celtic history and culture. Under his Tremayne pseudonym he is the author of the international bestselling Sister Fidelma Mystery series. His work has appeared in 25 languages.