Marty told the reporters that she saw it happen. She saw the gunman enter the hall. She saw her mother die trying to protect them all.

That’s the version of Day One Marty wishes was true. But strange inconsistencies in her story begin to surface. Details that don’t add up. Questions she can’t answer.

The story ignites. Amidst the media frenzy, conspiracy theorists become obsessed with exposing what really happened. And at the epicentre of it all is a small community changed forever. Survivors crushed by guilt. Families torn in half. Outsiders consumed by the hunt for truth.

Each has their own version of Day One. Each must grapple with this tragedy, even as fanatics question whether it ever really happened at all.

But what did Marty really see? And why would she lie?

As events spiral out of control, the true story is revealed, piece by shocking piece. Day One is an unflinching and heart-breaking exploration of our obsession with tragedy – and what it really means to live it.

*The breathtaking new novel from the bestselling author of Girl A* ‘Sensational’ RICHARD OSMAN ‘Pitch-perfect’ THE NEW YORK TIMES ‘A masterpiece’ LOUISE O’NEILL ‘Fantastic’ PAULA HAWKINS Stonesmere will never be the same again… A village hall, a primary school play, a beautiful Lake District town. Into this idyllic scene steps a lone gunman whose actions set off a train of events that will have devastating consequences for the close-knit community of Stonesmere. At the epicentre of the tragedy is Marty, daughter of the teacher who dies trying to protect her pupils. What did she see? How is she involved? In the weeks and months following the killings, conspiracy theorists start questioning what happened. For outsider Trent Casey, the truther movement offers him a chance to step into the spotlight to expose the ‘sham’ of the killings. Marty’s and Trent’s lives will become entwined as events spiral out of control. The true story is gradually revealed, but at what cost to those caught up in the maelstrom… Day One is a tender, heartbreaking novel about community, tragedy, and the lasting power of love from the bestselling author of Girl A.

*The breathtaking new novel from the bestselling author of Girl A* ‘Sensational’ RICHARD OSMAN ‘Pitch-perfect’ THE NEW YORK TIMES ‘A masterpiece’ LOUISE O’NEILL ‘Fantastic’ PAULA HAWKINS Stonesmere will never be the same again… A village hall, a primary school play, a beautiful Lake District town. Into this idyllic scene steps a lone gunman whose actions set off a train of events that will have devastating consequences for the close-knit community of Stonesmere. At the epicentre of the tragedy is Marty, daughter of the teacher who dies trying to protect her pupils. What did she see? How is she involved? In the weeks and months following the killings, conspiracy theorists start questioning what happened. For outsider Trent Casey, the truther movement offers him a chance to step into the spotlight to expose the ‘sham’ of the killings. Marty’s and Trent’s lives will become entwined as events spiral out of control. The true story is gradually revealed, but at what cost to those caught up in the maelstrom… Day One is a tender, heartbreaking novel about community, tragedy, and the lasting power of love from the bestselling author of Girl A.

LONGLISTED FOR THE THEAKSTONS CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 'The year's best debut' SUNDAY TIMES 'The best crime novel of the year' INDEPENDENT 'Sensational. Gripping, haunting, and beautifully written' RICHARD OSMAN CHOSEN AS A BEST BOOK OF 2021 BY THE TIMES, THE FT, THE GUARDIAN, THE INDEPENDENT, STYLIST AND MORE! 'The biggest mystery thriller since Gone Girl' ELLE 'The novel you'll stay up reading until 3am' SUNDAY TIMES 'An astonishing achievement.' JESSIE BURTON 'Gripping, beautifully written perfection.' SOPHIE HANNAH 'A masterpiece.' LOUISE O'NEILL 'Fantastic.' PAULA HAWKINS 'Girl A,' she said. 'The girl who escaped. If anyone was going to make it, it was going to be you.' I am Lex Gracie: but they call me Girl A. I grew up with my family on the moors. I escaped when I was fifteen years old. NOW SOMETHING IS PULLING ME BACK... RIGHTS SOLD IN 36 TERRITORIES SOON TO BE A TV SHOW DIRECTED BY JOHAN RENCK (Chernobyl) 'Incendiary, beautifully written debut' Guardian 'Psychologically astute, adroitly organised, written with flair' Sunday Times 'Terrifyingly gripping' SUSIE STEINER 'Beautiful' ADELE PARKS 'Incredibly well written, devastating in a good way, and intriguing to the last page' LIZ NUGENT 'I was obsessed by it. As close to perfect as thrillers get' JOHN MARRS 'A gripping debut' Oprah magazine One of Marie Claire, Waterstones and Grazia's best books for 2021 A Sunday Times No.2 bestseller for w/e 6/2/21 A New York Times bestseller