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WHERE THERE’S SMOKE

Paperback

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bantam (19 Nov. 2015)

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages

‘One gloved hand, buffeted by the heat, moved disturbingly up and down, as though trying to beat back the flames.’

SYNOPSIS

Inside the room it is even darker. It is like walking in ink. Blind, she feels her way through the half familiar landmarks of beds and bookshelves. Her heart thuds. Blood from the wound is sticky, and at her touch there is a white leap of pain that lightens the darkness…

Meet Kate Powell. She is successful, single, and likes to be in control. Lately, though, her life has begun to feel a little shallow. A little meaningless.

All to aware that her body clock is ticking, Kate believes she knows how to fix it. She wants a child, but after having had her fingers burned in the past, she doesn’t want to make the same mistake again. This time she’s going to do things differently. She’ll do this her way, or not at all.

Donor insemination seems like the ideal solution, except that Kate can’t reconcile herself to never meeting her baby’s father, far less not even knowing who he is. Determined to be in control of her own life, she advertises privately for a donor.

Alex Turner appears to be the perfect match. Good looking, shy and intelligent, he ticks all the boxes. 

But appearances can be deceptive.

Dangerously so.

EXTRACT

Inside the room it is even darker. It is like walking in ink. Blind, she feels her way through the half familiar landmarks of beds and bookshelves. And then there is the wall. She presses against it, trying to stifle the breaths that tear at her throat. Her heart thuds. Blood from the wound is sticky, and at her touch there is a white leap of pain that lightens the darkness. She hears the footsteps now, drawing closer. Along the corridor doors are opened, one at a time, until there is only hers left. The smell of petrol is sweet and heavy in its threat. She hugs her stomach, feeling the small pulse of new life inside, curled and vulnerable. The footsteps stop. A whisper of the door opening. Her name.

Some moments burn in the mind for ever.

REVIEWS

‘Brilliant. One of the best novels I’ve read all year.’

MARTINA COLE

‘An edge of the seat psychological thriller.’

LIZ BOVES BOOKS

‘A brilliant psychological thriller.’

POSTCARD REVIEWS

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