The Innocents

Description

'As five we were mighty, the points on a star...Once we five joined, it was never boys against girls...Two of our triangles cut themselves off and ran away together, and we were never whole again. Never.' Years ago, they were the best of friends. But as time passed, they grew apart, became adults with families of their own, and began to forget about the past - and the terrible lies they shared. But now Gordon, the youngest and wildest of the five, has died and the others are thrown together for the first time in years. Could their long-ago lie be the reason for their troubles today? Is it more dangerous to admit to what they'd done or is it the strain of keeping the secret that is beginning to wear down on their souls. Dark, provocative and beautifully written The Innocents will appeal to fans of Lionel Shriver, Megan Abbott and Kate Atkinson. (First published as The Most Dangerous Thing in the US)

Laura Lippman was a reporter for twenty years, including twelve years at the Baltimore Sun. Her novels have won almost every prize given for crime fiction in the United States, including the Edgar, Anthony, Nero Wolfe and Agatha awards. She lives in Baltimore with her husband, the writer David Simon who created hit TV series The Wire and Homicide: Life on the Street.

'The Innocents is compelling, suspenseful - everything a great thriller should be - but it is SO much more than that. That rarest of books - a nuanced and beautifully literate page-turner - this confirms what many of us have known for some time. Laura Lippman is not just the author of top-notch psychological thrillers, she is one of the finest writers in America. Simple as that.' Mark Billingham 'A story that ripples with menace, sorrow and the dark churn of adolescence-the prices families pay for secrets, the things we can't look at in ourselves.' Megan Abbott, bestselling author of The End of Everything 'Lippman delivers an emotionally complex drama that cements her reputation as one of the smartest crime writers around.' People Magazine Lippman has long excelled at believable psychological suspense.' Guardian 'Exquisite as fine jewellery.' Lee Child 'A corker... engrossing.' Observer