The House on the Cliff

A Novel

by Charlotte Williams

On Sale: 01/07/2014

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The House on the Cliff

A Novel

by Charlotte Williams

On Sale: 01/07/2014

Format:

Amazon Indigo

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About the Book

A riveting psychological crime novel featuring Jessica Mayhew, a therapist who becomes entangled in the long-dormant murder mystery that haunts her patient’s family

Jessica Mayhew is a sharp, successful therapist with a thriving practice and a loving family at home. But actor Gwydion Morgan’s dramatic appearance at her office coincides with a turbulent moment in her life: her husband has just confessed to a one-night stand with a much younger woman. Gwydion, son of the famous stage director Evan Morgan, is good-looking and talented but mentally fragile, tormented by an intriguing phobia. When his mother phones to say he is suicidal, Jessica, determined to trace the cause of his distress, decides to make a house call.

The Morgans live in a grand clifftop mansion overlooking the rocky Welsh coast. It seems to be a remote paradise, but there’s something sinister about the place, too. Jessica learns that an au pair who cared for Gwydion drowned in the bay under mysterious circumstances. In her quest to help her client, to whom she’s becoming increasingly attached, Jessica becomes ensnared in the Morgan family mystery, which soon becomes an explosive public scandal—one that puts her directly in harm’s way. All the while, Jessica is doing her best to keep her marriage and family together—but her connection with Gwydion is impossible to ignore.

A smart, sexy novel of suspense, The House on the Cliff will keep you gripped until the very end.

Critical Praise

“A tightly focused psychological drama. . . . The setting provides the perfect backdrop for a tale of raw emotions and explosive rage. I look forward to more outings for Williams’s cool, clever, yet flawed psychological sleuth.” — The Independent on Sunday

“An accomplished debut. . . . A pacey, intriguing psychological thriller.” — The Guardian

“Williams’s first crime novel features an appropriately moody setting, a suspenseful climax, and a winning protagonist likely to attract trouble.” — Booklist

“This solid domestic suspense debut, nicely seasoned with gothic elements, should please Gone Girl fans and those who crave a real page-turner. . . . Readers will admire how Williams has created such believable characters and how she weaves effectively psychological theories throughout.” — Library Journal (starred review)