‘Gothic drama meets a dystopian thriller with jaw-dropping twists ... as wise as it is addictive’ - Maria Semple
‘Completely addictive – I found myself reaching for it every moment I could and thinking about it when I wasn’t reading’ - Jennie Godfrey
You aren't a real person until you have a secret...
Miss Archer by Jordan Harrison is an audaciously original and propulsive debut that deftly explores our yearning for the analogue world as we tumble into the future, and asks what it truly means to be human. And we're delighted to reveal it as our January 2027 Fresh Ink selection, marking the beginning of another year of discovering exceptional debut fiction.
Growing up in the Squares, Dre Archer has always been told that human history is over. But when she is unexpectedly recruited as governess to a mysterious five-year-old boy named Albie, she finds herself transported into a world unlike anything she has known.
Albie lives in an imposing Victorian manor, surrounded by staff who maintain the elaborate illusion that the year is 1884 - despite this beingtwo centuries before Dre was born. Dre must learn to play her part, complete with corsets, comportment lessons and strict instructions never to question the strange circumstances of her employment. Yet as her attachment to Albie deepens, so too does her suspicion that something far more sinister lies beneath the carefully constructed world around them.
What immediately drew us to Miss Archer was its wonderfully original premise and the way Jordan Harrison combines the atmospheric tension of a classic Gothic mystery with the unsettling possibilities of speculative fiction. There are echoes of Rebecca, The Turn of the Screw and Never Let Me Go, but this is a novel with a distinctive imagination entirely its own.
For us, Miss Archer represents exactly what makes discovering debut fiction so exciting. It's ambitious, inventive and impossible to categorise neatly, blending Gothic suspense, dystopian intrigue and emotional storytelling into a reading experience that feels both thrillingly unfamiliar and deeply resonant.
An audacious and addictive debut, Miss Archer is a brilliant way to begin another year of Fresh Ink.
Discover Fresh Ink: Where Great Literary Journeys Begin
There's something particularly exciting about discovering an author at the very beginning of their literary career; reading their first novel, recognising an extraordinary new voice, and knowing you've been part of their journey from the start.
That's what Fresh Ink is all about.
Our membership celebrates the very best in debut fiction, with our team handpicking one exceptional new novel each month and presenting it as a beautiful, collectible signed and numbered first edition, exclusively for our members.
From bold, genre-defying storytelling to unforgettable characters and remarkable literary voices, Fresh Ink is an invitation to discover tomorrow's most exciting authors before everyone else.
As a Fresh Ink Member, You'll Enjoy:
- 📚 Exclusive signed & numbered first editions, specially selected and produced for Fresh Ink.
- 📚 15% off all other Goldsboro Books purchases, helping you grow your collection beyond your monthly pick.
- 📚 Exclusive member content, including author interviews, behind-the-scenes insights and opportunities to discover more about the books we choose.
- 📚 The chance to discover remarkable new writers first, championing debut authors at the very beginning of their careers.
- 📚 A community of passionate readers, brought together by a shared love of discovering extraordinary fiction.
With Miss Archer opening our 2027 selections, there's never been a better time to join us.
Start your year with a new literary discovery. Join Fresh Ink today and discover the authors everyone will be talking about tomorrow.
