Description

‘An intelligent, utterly-of-the-moment thriller’ EMMA STONEX
‘Compelling, atmospheric. It’s BRILLIANT’ MARIAN KEYES
‘Sumptuously written. One of the most compelling literary debuts of the year’ GLAMOUR

ONE WOMAN KNOWS THE TRUTH.
CAN YOU TRUST HER TO TELL IT?

Laura flies to her parents’ homeland for the defence case of her life. Facing trial is Marija Popa, ‘the Black Widow’; a constant at her husband’s side until the day his people rose up and executed him. Beautiful and beguiling, Marija insists she knew nothing of her husband’s dark affairs.

For Laura, the case has a personal meaning. Her mother has never spoken of the horrors she witnessed under the old regime, and remains a shadow of the woman she used to be. As Laura prepares for the trial, she realises that to find the truth, she must enter the web of the dictator’s wife. But what secrets lie within?

A BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK.
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS’ CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2022
THE NEW EUROPEAN’S BEST FICTION PICK OF THE YEAR 2022

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‘Richly imagined’ THE TIMES
‘A remarkable new talent’ ANTHONY HOROWITZ
‘Magnificent’ CHARLOTTE PHILBY
‘A gripping and moving debut’ HARLAN COBEN
‘Fascinating, atmospheric, utterly gripping’ LIZ HYDER
‘Spellbinding’ JANE SHEMILT
‘Darkly compelling’ STYLIST
‘Thrilling and remarkably assured’ NEW EUROPEAN
‘The ending left me breathless’ LARA PRESCOTT
‘Atmospheric, claustrophobic and so elegantly written’ ELLERY LLOYD
‘Engrossing, evocative, chillingly claustrophobic’ KAREN HAMILTON
‘A darkly atmospheric, rich, compulsive and page-turning read’ KATE HAMER
‘Excellent, immersive’ HARRIET TYCE

Publisher Review

A gripping, intelligent, utterly-of-the-moment thriller -- EMMA STONEX, bestselling author of The Lamplighters A remarkable new talent -- ANTHONY HOROWITZ, bestselling author of A Line to Kill This book is magnificent -- CHARLOTTE PHILBY, bestselling author of A Double Life A captivating story of women's power, love and secrets. As timely and profound as it is unforgettable. The ending left me breathless -- LARA PRESCOTT, New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets We Kept A gripping and moving debut from a talent to watch -- HARLAN COBEN A fascinating exploration of absolute power, female agency and the complexities of complicity. Atmospheric, claustrophobic and so elegantly written -- ELLERY LLOYD A darkly atmospheric, rich, compulsive and page-turning read -- KATE HAMER One of the most original debuts I have read -- DAISY GOODWIN Excellent. Horrifying and immersive with strong characterisation and atmosphere -- HARRIET TYCE A thrilling novel -- OLIVIA VINALL