A woman lies dead on the ground. A girl watches from the shadows. What did she really see?
The summer of 1976 was the hottest in living memory. A lost little girl, dizzied by the head, stumbled upon a deserted museum. She thought she saw a woman lying dead on the ground. But when she opened her eyes, the woman had gone.
Forty years later, cleaner and detective Stella Darnell is investigating a suspected murder in the Botanical Gardens at Kew. Working methodically, stain by stain, she is drawn into an obsessive world, and towards a killer who has never been caught...
Head of Zeus * Crime Fiction
21 Apr 2016 * 400pp * £20 * 9781784972219
REVIEWS
'A prime example of complex storytelling on a grand scale and a great way to kickstart the month ... an intricate story that stealthily holds your attention throughout towards a thrilling and gripping finale'
Bookshelf Butterfly
'n atmospheric and sinister crime thriller with an agreeably complex tale of murder in an iconic London setting, 4/5'
The Curious Ginger Cat
'eautifully crafted, thoughtful ... The denouement is both shocking and satisfying ... This is yet another unsettling, accomplished book by a writer at the top of her game and is highly recommended, 10/10'
Brainfluff
'A classic mystery with various red herrings and a surprising but totally fair twist at the end. Readers – pay attention! Highly recommended'
Promoting Crime
'These books are very enjoyable and I thoroughly recommend them'
New Books Magazine
'Entertaining ... The twists, turns and revelations of clues and links are deftly handled into an exciting tale. Her use of a cleaning detective and a side-kick with such percipience is inspired'
Crime Review
Author

Lesley Thomson grew up in west London. Her first novel, A Kind of Vanishing, won the People's Book Prize in 2010. Her second novel, The Detective's Daughter, was a #1 bestseller and the resulting series has sold over 750,000 copies. Lesley divides her time between Sussex and Gloucestershire. She lives with her partner and her dog.
Visit her website at lesleythomson.co.uk