Frances is a thirty-something lowly sub-editor, but her routine, colourless existence is disrupted one winter evening when she happens upon the aftermath of a car crash and hears the last words of the driver, Alys Kyte.

When Alys's family makes contact in an attempt to find closure, Frances is given a tantalising glimpse of a very different world: one of privilege and possibility. The relationships she builds with the Kytes will have an impact on her own life, both professionally and personally, as Frances dares to wonder whether she might now become a player in her own right ...

Sounds really good, and this is a Christmas pressie for my lovely friend xx

Merry Christmas to you! Enjoy this book :D xx

Just realised as I've started reading this, that I put it away on Christmas day and forgot to journal I had it! Sorry Beqi and thanks for thinking of me. Always good to try books I hadn't thought of before.

I liked the style of the writing in this book. The imagery created and attention to detail elevated it above the usual psychological thriller. I think if you liked a novel like Notes on a Scandal by Zoe Heller you'd enjoy this too. I found myself having baths just so I could soak into the bubbles and read it. A good debut novel and I'd read more by this author.

Passed on to a friend who might enjoy this.

Thank you isisjem. This looks good :-)

I have to say I was very impressed by this debut novel. I read it in two days, which is pretty darn fast for me these days.

I love the way the narrator, Frances, develops and gradually reveals her character, and her undoubted abilities as an observer and manipulator. The author, through her, is so sharply and wickedly observant of the snobberies and betrayals of the literary and journalistic elite and of the ways of the middle classes generally. There's great cruel humour in particular the way she describes her pathologically conventional parents.

Although it has echoes of Rebecca and Ripley and Ruth Rendell, this has a completely unique style and is very vividly written. I was sorry to hear that Harriet Lane has serious problems with her sight, she is a very 'visual' writer and the novel is full of atmosphere and light.

Not really a thriller. More of a psychological drama.

Look forward to more from this author