'I absolutely loved this smart, twisty novel' SHARI LAPENA 'A dark and twisty read' NITA PROSE, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE MAID THE TENSE AND COMPELLING NEW NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE WIDOW AND THE CHILD. Everyone watches their neighbours. Elise King moves into the sleepy seaside town of Ebbing. Illness has thrown her career as a successful detective into doubt, but no matter how hard she tries to relax and recuperate, she knows that something isn't right. Everyone lies about their friends. Tensions are running high beneath the surface of this idyllic community: the weekenders in their fancy clothes, renovating old bungalows into luxury homes, and the locals resentful of the changes. A town divided, with the threat of violence only a heartbeat away. Everyone knows a secret. This peaceful world is shattered when two teenagers end up in hospital and a local man vanishes without trace. Elise starts digging for answers, but the community closes ranks, and the truth begins to slip through her fingers. Because in a small town like this, the locals are good at keeping secrets... Everyone's a suspect when a local goes missing. 'A fab, twisty-turny mystery' The Sun 'Tense and full of reveals and twists. This compulsively dark mystery is a joy to read. Fiona Barton never disappoints!' LESLEY KARA 'I was completely swept up in this story of a seaside town full of dark secrets - the pace was perfect, the characters so skilfully drawn and the ending was masterful. I loved it!' KATHERINE FAULKNER, author of Greenwich Park Readers are gripped by Local Gone Missing! 'Fiona Barton is a brilliant author, and her stories are utterly compelling. Like all her books, this one is simply a must read.' 'I absolutely loved this book and raced through. Brilliant story and brilliant writing - I highly recommend!' 'This was an absolute page turner. Loved it from start to finish!'

Everyone watches their neighbours. Elise King moves into the sleepy seaside town of Ebbing. Illness has thrown her career as a successful detective into doubt, but no matter how hard she tries to relax and recuperate, she knows that something isn't right. Everyone lies about their friends. Tensions are running high beneath the surface of this idyllic community: the weekenders in their fancy clothes, renovating old bungalows into luxury homes, and the locals resentful of the changes. A town divided, with the threat of violence only a heartbeat away. Everyone knows a secret. This peaceful world is shattered when two teenagers end up in hospital and a local man vanishes without trace. Elise starts digging for answers, but the community closes ranks, and the truth begins to slip through her fingers. Because in a small town like this, the locals are good at keeping secrets... Everyone's a suspect when a local goes missing.

THE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, AND RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK 'If you liked GONE GIRL and THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, you might want to pick up THE WIDOW by Fiona Barton. Engrossing. Suspenseful' Stephen King We've all seen him: the man - the monster - staring from the front page of every newspaper, accused of a terrible crime. But what about her: the woman who grips his arm on the courtroom stairs - the wife who stands by him? Jean Taylor's life was blissfully ordinary. Nice house, nice husband. Glen was all she'd ever wanted: her Prince Charming. Until he became that man accused, that monster on the front page. Jean was married to a man everyone thought capable of unimaginable evil. But now Glen is dead and she's alone for the first time, free to tell her story on her own terms. Jean Taylor is going to tell us what she knows. ***** 'The book really got under my skin and had me turning pages at a rate of knots, unable to tear myself away.' ***** 'An utterly addictive read that I couldn't put down.' ***** 'Clever twists and turns . . . kept me on my toes until the end.' Read Fiona Barton's other tantalising thrillers: THE CHILD, THE SUSPECT and LOCAL GONE MISSING - out now.

'I absolutely loved this smart, twisty novel' SHARI LAPENA 'A dark and twisty read' NITA PROSE, Sunday Times bestselling author of THE MAID THE TENSE AND COMPELLING NEW NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE WIDOW AND THE CHILD. Everyone watches their neighbours. Elise King moves into the sleepy seaside town of Ebbing. Illness has thrown her career as a successful detective into doubt, but no matter how hard she tries to relax and recuperate, she knows that something isn't right. Everyone lies about their friends. Tensions are running high beneath the surface of this idyllic community: the weekenders in their fancy clothes, renovating old bungalows into luxury homes, and the locals resentful of the changes. A town divided, with the threat of violence only a heartbeat away. Everyone knows a secret. This peaceful world is shattered when two teenagers end up in hospital and a local man vanishes without trace. Elise starts digging for answers, but the community closes ranks, and the truth begins to slip through her fingers. Because in a small town like this, the locals are good at keeping secrets... Everyone's a suspect when a local goes missing. 'A fab, twisty-turny mystery' The Sun 'Tense and full of reveals and twists. This compulsively dark mystery is a joy to read. Fiona Barton never disappoints!' LESLEY KARA 'I was completely swept up in this story of a seaside town full of dark secrets - the pace was perfect, the characters so skilfully drawn and the ending was masterful. I loved it!' KATHERINE FAULKNER, author of Greenwich Park Readers are gripped by Local Gone Missing! 'Fiona Barton is a brilliant author, and her stories are utterly compelling. Like all her books, this one is simply a must read.' 'I absolutely loved this book and raced through. Brilliant story and brilliant writing - I highly recommend!' 'This was an absolute page turner. Loved it from start to finish!'

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, AND RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK 'Clever and compelling. You'll love THE CHILD' Clare Mackintosh, author of LET ME LIE ******** When a paragraph in an evening newspaper reveals a decades-old tragedy, most readers barely give it a glance. But for three strangers it's impossible to ignore. For one woman, it's a reminder of the worst thing that ever happened to her. For another, it reveals the dangerous possibility that her darkest secret is about to be discovered. And for the third, a journalist, it's the first clue in a hunt to uncover the truth. The Child's story will be told. ******** 'An engrossing, irresistible story about the coming to light of a long-buried secret. An absolutely fabulous read - I loved it!' Shari Lapena, author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR 'Tense, tantalising and ultimately very satisfying . . . definitely one of the year's must-reads' Lee Child Read Fiona Barton's other tantalising thrillers: THE WIDOW and THE SUSPECT - out now. New for 2022: tense, compelling standout thriller LOCAL GONE MISSING ***Available to pre-order***

WHAT IF IT WAS SOMEONE YOU KNEW?

'Utterly engrossing . . . I lived inside this book for two days ― and I’m still thinking about it. Superb!' Shari Lapena, bestselling author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR

‘Intelligent, insightful and compelling. A clever, twisting whodunnit that delivers an emotional punch. I loved it.’ C L Taylor

The police belonged to another world – the world they saw on the television or in the papers. Not theirs.’

When two eighteen-year-old girls go missing on their gap year in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft and frantic with worry.

Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth – and this time is no exception. But she can’t help but think of her own son, who she hasn’t seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling. This time it’s personal.

And as the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might think . . .

WHAT IF IT WAS SOMEONE YOU KNEW? 'Utterly engrossing . . . I lived inside this book for two days - and I'm still thinking about it. Superb!' Shari Lapena, bestselling author of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR 'Intelligent, insightful and compelling. A clever, twisting whodunnit that delivers an emotional punch. I loved it.' C L Taylor The new must-read thriller from the author of Sunday Times bestseller, THE WIDOW, and the Richard & Judy No. 1 bestseller, THE CHILD. ********* 'The police belonged to another world - the world they saw on the television or in the papers. Not theirs.' When two eighteen-year-old girls go missing on their gap year in Thailand, their families are thrust into the international spotlight: desperate, bereft and frantic with worry. Journalist Kate Waters always does everything she can to be first to the story, first with the exclusive, first to discover the truth - and this time is no exception. But she can't help but think of her own son, who she hasn't seen in two years, since he left home to go travelling. This time it's personal. And as the case of the missing girls unfolds, they will all find that even this far away, danger can lie closer to home than you might think . . . ********* 'A stylish, beautifully written and perfectly pitched thriller that will have you racing to the denouement.' Cara Hunter, bestselling author of CLOSE TO HOME and IN THE DARK 'A fast-paced whodunnit with heart, characters I feel I know and a deliciously dark twist. Superb writing, often blackly funny, and a scene that made me cry into my pillow.' Gillian McAllister, Sunday Times bestselling author of EVERYTHING BUT THE TRUTH 'Fiona Barton is perceptive, empathetic and a talented writer' Daily Express