A beautiful, beguiling novel from the bestselling author of The Librarian and Grandmothers''A lovely book . . . wise at heart and filled with colourful characters'' Joanne Harris, author of ChocolatA compelling story of darkness and light, of traumatic loss and second chances, The Cleaner of Chartres tells of the mysterious and elusive Agnes Morel whose little acts of kindness around a rural French cathedral touch the lives of others with consequences both good and ill. But when her tragic past is exposed, Agnes must face up to the truth of her origins. ''Salley Vickers sees with a clear eye and writes with a light hand and she knows how the world works. She''s a presence worth cherishing'' Philip Pullman''A rich weave of loss and redemption . . . magic and mystery'' Observer, Book of the Year