Product details
- ISBN 9780008732264
- Weight: 400g
- Dimensions: 153 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 20 Jan 2026
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Paperback
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Mack and Hailey Evans are on the cusp of living the American Dream. Established careers, two beautiful children, and a new house on a coveted lakefront estate.
But modern life is expensive, so the anonymous payments they start to receive are spent before they know it. Could this money be from Mack's estranged father? Or one of Hailey's clients? Does it really matter?
Then they discover that this mysterious benefactor expects a return on their investment. How far will the couple have to go to pay them back?
As it turns out, the best things in life are not free. And the price is far steeper than they could have imagined …
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‘Craftily written domestic thriller’ Irish Times
‘Tense, pacy debut novel’ Guardian
'A must read' Marie Claire
'This book is a blast! Domestic suspense, cautionary tale and crime caper rolled into one, it had me hooked from the first wicked word to the last. A delicious treat’ Louise Candlish
'Tense novel about greed and denial' The i Paper
‘I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. What an adrenaline packed ride’ Cesca Major
‘carries a strong sense of horrific dread… carries a slow intensity’Bestsellers World
‘The diabolical premise at the center will keep you guessing until the very end’ Sarina Bowen
‘Sharp, witty and twisted – a car crash of the American Dream in slo-mo, and I loved every second!’ Liane Child
‘Devilishly twisted debut which I could not put down’ Gillian McAllister
‘A pacy, high stakes debut that keeps you guessing until the very last page’ Andi Osho
‘A gripping, refreshing read’ Emily Elgar
‘Brisk pacing, clever red herrings, and haunting denouement’ Publishers Weekly
‘Impressive debut… cleverly plotted for fans of domestic suspense and ‘eat the rich’ narratives’ Booklist review
Featured as Spring 2026 Most Anticipated List, Zibby Media
Featured as 10 Most-Anticipated Mystery-Thriller Books 2026, Marie Claire
Featured as 10 debut fiction books by women to read in 2026, Stylist
READERS ARE GRIPPED …'The suspense and tension was built brilliantly. That simmering unease always there'
'A completely original plot … I love, love, loved it!'
'Sharp, unsettling and thoroughly addictive'
'Lingers long after the final page'
Lauren Schott is a freelance editor and ghostwriter with over 20 years experience in book and magazine publishing. She was a literary agent in New York and London for 15 years and has written children’s books published by Scholastic and Orion. She was born and raised in Ohio but now lives in Henley with her husband and two children.
