The author wishes to thank two amazing bands, The Methadones and Shot Baker, for permission to reprint some of their lyrics
First published in Great Britain 2012
by Electric Monkey – an imprint of Egmont UK Limited
239 Kensington High Street
London W8 6SA
First e-book edition 2012
Copyright © The Shadow Gang 2012
The moral rights of the author have been asserted
The digital experience that accompanies this book was created by The Shadow Gang in conjunction with the author (www.theshadowgang.com)
ISBN 978 1 4052 5993 4 (hardback)
ISBN 978 1 4052 6430 3 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978 1 7803 1078 7 (ebook)
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
For Katherine, Jake and Julia
Oh, that way madness lies;
let me shun that.
King Lear
Table of Contents
ONE
A girl sat just three chairs down from Noah talking to her hand. To the back of her hand, actually, as she spread her fingers wide. Her fingertips were painted alternately red and gold, but not with fingernail polish, and