A daughter’s secret. A mother’s betrayal.
Every mother knows never to let their child out of their sight. But Freya has been distracted recently, and now her teenage daughter, Zoe, is missing.
Freya knows that the only way to bring Zoe back is to tell the truth, but when your whole life is built on secrets and lies, the truth could destroy everything.
Surely there’s no harm in telling just one more little white lie?
A gripping psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Louise Jensen, Linda Green and Claire Seeber.
S is for Stranger
Never Out of Sight
Louise Stone
LOUISE STONE
worked as a teacher before turning her hand to fiction. She was brought up in Africa and the Middle East and then ‘as an adult’ travelled extensively before moving to London and finally settling in the Cotswolds with her partner, and now baby. When she’s not writing, you will find her scouring interior design magazines and shops, striving towards the distant dream of being a domestic goddess or having a glass of wine with country music turned up loud. As a child, she always had her nose in a book and, in particular, Nancy Drew. S is for Stranger, her first psychological suspense thriller, was shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Prize. She also writes women’s fiction under the pseudonym Lottie Phillips. Readers can find Louise Stone, otherwise known as Charlie Phillips, on Twitter @writercharlie or at www.writercharlie.com
A huge thank you to Charlotte Mursell, my editor, for her belief in me and for her wonderful guidance.
To the entire team at HQ who are all incredibly talented.
My parents for their enduring support and endless cups of tea!
Jon and Finn: you make the sweat and tears worth it!
To Jon and Finn, with love
I would my soul were like the bird
That dares the vastness undeterred.
‘The Daring One’, Edwin Markham
The Gates of Paradise and Other Poems (1928)
Contents
The fly buzzed around me, its incessant hum thundering loudly in my ear, but still I dared not move. My eyes wandered momentarily from the man standing in front of me – his lips glistening