'Hypnotic … An uncommonly clever whodunnit'
New York Times Book Review
'Deftly plotted with vivid, compelling characters'
Jojo Moyes
'One of the standout books of the summer'
Stylist
'In the vein of Agatha Christie herself. Startling'
Irish Times
A captivating debut about obsession, rivalry and coming of age — an Observer, i and New York Times Book of the Year
Jess Walker, middle child of a middle class family, has perfected the art of vanishing in plain sight. But when she arrives at a concrete university campus under flat, grey, East Anglian skies, her world flares with colour.
Drawn into a tightly-knit group of rule breakers — led by their maverick teacher, Lorna Clay — Jess begins to experiment with a new version of herself. But the dynamic between the friends begins to darken as they share secrets, lovers and finally a tragedy. Soon Jess is thrown up against the question she fears most: what is the true cost of an extraordinary life?