Culver Valley Crime (Book 1) - Softcover

Fascinating and original ... beautifully written ... outstandingly chilling Spectator Quite brilliant - I was extremely impressed The Times This may well turn out to be the detective novel of the year ... A terrifying mystery of manipulation, counter-manipulation and, finally, astounding revelation - it's a haunting story told with bewitching skill. Scotsman She ranks among the best recent practitioners of light verse, sharing with Ewart fluency and a good ear, emulating Wendy Cope in her sly wit and blending an eye for the absurdities in human behaviour with compassion. Alan Brownjohn, The Sunday Times Chilling and completely gripping - I stayed up half the night to finish it. Marie Claire 'The language and atmosphere are high-quality stuff, and the portrait of a woman in the throes of post-natal depression will be a revelation to some, to others a reminder.' Literary Review 'This taut psychological thriller is full of heart-thumping suspense.' Sainsbury's Magazine Sophie Hannah is a real star. P J Kavanagh in the Daily Telegraph Sophie Hannah's comic fiction produces reams of entertaining moral sophistry. Her novels sparkle. Independent 'Sophie Hannah is nothing if not flexible. An awardwinning poet, she has also published short stories and can now add accomplished "thriller writer" to her list of achievements. On first impression, however, the plot of Little Face may appear borrowed: an unhinged mother gives birth to a darling child only to find, after the initial bonding, that someone has switched babies. That's the nightmare of Alice Fancourt, who returns home after her first outing in two weeks to find the door open, her husband David napping and someone else's child in the nursery. When a controlling mother-in-law and a suspicious policeman enter the plot, readers will realise something is afoot. Adding to the tension are fears surrounding the death of David's first wife, and the discovery of a family "tradition" of estranged children. But just when readers think the plot offers no surprises, Hannah wrong-foots them and works her way, at a heart-thumping pace, to a delicious ending. Unless she wants to try her South China Morning Post 'This may well turn out to be the detective novel of the year ... A terrifying mystery of manipulation, counter-manipulation and, finally, astounding revelation - it's a haunting story told with bewitching skill' Scotsman Hannah has a keen ear for her characters' foibles, snobberies and hypocrisies, and the observation remains acute throughout. Observer 'This may well turn out to be the detective novel of the year ... So develops a terrifying mystery of manipulation, counter-manipulation and, finally, astounding revelation - it's a haunting story told with bewitching skill' Scotsman 'The author is a poet by trade and she brings a wealth of psychological and literary subtlety to bear in this impressive novel. Smart and disarmingly unnerving.' Daily Mail 'Hannah adapts to crime fiction with arresting aplomb: her characters are vivid, the novel's challenging double narrative is handled with flair, and its denouement is ingenious' The Sunday Times 'The author is a poet by trade and she brings a wealth of psychological and literary subtlety to bear in this impressive novel. Smart and disarmingly unnerving.' Daily Mail 'Hannah adapts to crime fiction with arresting aplomb: her characters are vivid, the novel's challenging double narrative is handled with flair, and its denouement is ingenious' The Sunday Times 'Sophie Hannah has written a riveting thriller that will keep you turning the pages in one sitting if possible. Her observations about what lies beneath the surface of other people's lives are intelligently made and beautifully written.' Irish Independent 'LITTLE FACE is that most fascinating and intelligent of modern crime novels: rather than a whodunit, it escalates from a how-and-whydunit to a point where the reader is unsure if a crime has been committed at all ... Hannah never deviates from her intention: to deliver a gripping crime story of the first order, loaded with subtext and meaning.' Leeds Guide 'LITTLE FACE is that most fascinating and intelligent of modern crime novels: rather than a whodunit, it escalates from a how-and-whydunit to a point where the reader is unsure if a crime has been committed at all ... Hannah never deviates from her intention: to deliver a gripping crime story of the first order, loaded with subtext and meaning.' Leeds Guide 'Hannah's whodunit milks a classic formula with subversive results. This missing-baby tale chimes with very modern anxieties. Custody issues lie at the heart of the resolution, and the increasingly perverse relationship between Alice and David is grounded in recognisable reality that serves only to make our flesh crawl more.' Emma Hagestadt, Independent 'A suspensful and psychological thriller, the plot twists and turns right up until the very last.' Heat 'Hannah keeps a keen eye on the pace and suspense which makes for a riveting if uncomfortable read.' Londonpaper 'I do not really want to discuss this thriller. I do not want to give away any of the quite brilliant twists to those who may not have read LITTLE FACE or have not yet finished it. So, you will just have to take my word, and that of those who mailed the Books group, that Sophie Hannah delivers as good a finale as any crime writer. I was extremely impressed.' Alyson Rudd, The Times 'Intriguing. Hannah's depiction of releationships tested to the limit by domestic tragedy is impressive.' Simon Shaw, Mail on Sunday 'Hannah's whodunit milks a classic formula with subversive results. This missing-baby tale chimes with very modern anxieties. Custody issues lie at the heart of the resolution, and the increasingly perverse relationship between Alice and David is grounded in recognisable reality that serves only to make our flesh crawl more.' Emma Hagestadt, Independent 'I do not really want to discuss this thriller. I do not want to give away any of the quite brilliant twists to those who may not have read LITTLE FACE or have not yet finished it. So, you will just have to take my word, and that of those who mailed the Books group, that Sophie Hannah delivers as good a finale as any crime writer. I was extremely impressed.' Alyson Rudd, The Times 'Hannah's novels combine traditional police procedurals with intense psychological thrillers ... compelling' Weekend Herald, Auckland 'Intriguing. Hannah's depiction of releationships tested to the limit by domestic tragedy is impressive.' Simon Shaw, Mail on Sunday 'As the situation spirals out of control and past events find a foothold in the present, Hannah's suspenseful tale will keep you gripped until the truth is revealed.' Lincolnshire Echo 'A roller coaster of a read and a real page turner. Find a couple of days when you don't need to be anywhere. Disconnect the doorbell and turn off the phone. I can guarantee you will not want to be disturbed while reading this. Intriguing, thrilling and worrying: where is Florence? What happened to Alice and Little Face? are just two of the questions you will find yourself asking. Along with the age-old is it nature or nurture that makes people into what they are? Sophie Hannah keeps us guessing till the end and then hits us between the eyes with a thrilling climax. Not to be missed.' NewBooks Magazine 'Women in peril flit through the pages of traditional Gothic fiction, murmuring 'Had I but known!' as they fall for the wrong man, open the wrong door or apply for the wrong job. Sophie Hannah takes the trusty formula in both hands, gives it a vigorous shake and uses it to produce something fascinating and original in her novel. Beautifully written the novel is outstandingly chilling - terror lurks in the half understood and in anticipation. Little Face is a hugely promising debut. Sophie Hannah is an author to watch.' Andrew Taylor, Spectator '...this is a compelling tale of manipulation, malice, murder and child abduction.' Daily Express 'This taut psychological thriller by the award-winning poet and children's writer is full of heart-thumping suspense. It's a mother's worst nightmare' Sainsbury's Magazine 'This is a chilling psychological thriller that will definitely have you holding your breath as the plot unfolds. It is a fascinating read and will send chills down the spine of any parent as you constantly ask the question: "Could this happen to me?" Luton News 'If you want a nail-biter, look no further than Little Face... This will have readers guessing right to the very end.' Colchester Evening Gazette 'Sophie Hannah is an award-winning poet and short story writer, and for this, her first novel, she has come up with a chilling thriller... I was left thinking about the book for days' Gaurdian 'Little Face is an accomplished thriller that will appeal to anyone who enjoys a rattling good read but will send especially shiver-some chills down the spine of any parent.' Bradford Telegraph & Argus 'Sophie Hannah's novels define originality...gripping and unputdownable! She has put "You must read this" back into books and we love her for it.' B Magazine 'This is one of the most gripping psychological mysteries I have read in a long time ... I found some of the incidents profoundly disturbing and outside my comprehension, but all too frighteningly possible. One of the best books I have read in a long time. Truly gripping' Mystery Women Magazine 'She ranks among the best recent practitioners of light verse, sharing with Ewart fluency and a good ear, emulating Wendy Cope in her sly wit and blending an eye for the absurdities in human behaviour with compassion.' Alan Brownjohn The Sunday Times 'Sophie Hannah is a real star.' P J Kavanagh in the Daily Telegraph 'Sophie Hannah's comic fiction produces reams of entertaining moral sophistry. Her novels sparkle.' Independent 'Hannah has a keen ear for her characters' foibles, snobberies and hypocrisies, and the observation remains acute throughout.' Observer 'This is a terrific debut from Hannah. Creepy, scary domestic drama done as psychological thriller' The New Zealand Herald

Alice's baby is two weeks old when she leaves the house without her for the first time. On her eager return, she finds the front door open, her husband asleep on their bed upstairs. She rushes into their baby's room and screams. 'This isn't our baby! Where's our baby?' Her increasingly hostile husband swears she must be either mad or lying, and the DNA test is going to take a week. One week later, before the test has been taken, Alice and the baby have disappeared. Run away, abducted, murdered? The police who dismissed her baby swap story must find out, and as they do they find dark incidents in David's past - like the murder of his ex-wife...