A vivid and compulsive story of obsession, control and guilt, set in Nineties Dublin - perfect for fans of dark academia
An Irish Times Book of the Summer
'Arrives to fill the Secret History-shaped hole in your lives ... Gloriously entertaining' Observer, Books to look out for in 2025
'A searing exploration into our deepest desires and insecurities. I adored it' Heather Darwent
'I was gripped by this dark and thrilling fable' Dominic West
'I was hooked from the very start' Rachel Joyce
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Jessica and Linda are closer than sisters. Jessica has always been the lead; Linda, the supporting role. When they arrive at Wilde, an elite university at the heart of Dublin, it seems like nothing will change.
But then Mark enters the picture: an older, brooding, compelling philosophy student. When he and Linda start dating, tensions between Jessica and Linda spill over. And as the true extent of Mark's control is uncovered, tragedy becomes inevitable - and eventually strikes.
Years later, Jessica is still grappling with her role in what happened. But when an opportunity to set the record straight arises, can she make things right?

Portrait

Lisa Harding is a writer, actress, playwright and the author of two novels. Her previous book Bright Burning Things was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year and was named as a book of the year by the Observer, Grazia, Irish Times and the Irish Independent. She lives in Dublin.