Meet psychological thriller writers ERIN KELLY and LOUISE MILLAR

THE SICK ROSE by Erin Kelly: Who would you kill for love?

Following her acclaimed debut, The Poison Tree, Erin Kelly returns this summer with a tense and twisted novel of dark secrets and dangerous desires.

‘You kept my secret. I know yours now. That makes us even.’

Louisa works as a gardener, lovingly restoring the grounds of Kelstice Lodge – a crumbling Elizabethan mansion in rural Warwickshire. She may be far away from her old life in London, but the secrets of her past still leave her wracked by guilt and threaten to shatter her fragile peace at any moment.

Nineteen year old Paul has been sent to Kelstice to escape his own violent past. He had been led into a life of petty crime by his best friend Daniel, but one night things took a turn for the serious and a man lost his life. Now Paul must testify against Daniel to save himself from imprisonment. And Kelstice offers the perfect protection for the police’s star witness. Louisa and Paul soon develop an unlikely relationship and offer each other the chance to unburden their secrets and move on with their lives. But it’s only a matter of time before the past catches up with them . . .

Darting back and forth between the past and present to unravel her story, Erin Kelly has crafted another remarkably assured and utterly compelling suspense novel. It is sure to cement her reputation as an exciting voice in crime fiction.

THE PLAYDATE by Louise Millar: The novel that asks how well do you really know the people you leave your children with?

‘Can I just ask how long you’ve known Mrs. Howard?’ she says gently. I shrug. ‘Two years? Two and a half? We’re neighbours.’

‘And you know her well?’ ‘Yes.’

She says nothing. I notice she has her hand firmly on top of the folder in front of her. ‘Well, as much as you can do, I suppose. I mean, we look after each other’s kids.’ ‘And you trust her to do that?’

I look up at the young woman’s face. Probably years off having kids of her own. ‘It’s London,’ I say, trying to keep the testiness out of my voice. ‘You don’t have much choice, do you? With neighbours, other mothers? I mean, you can’t know everything about anybody you just meet in a city. But, yes, I trust her. She’s never given me any reason not to.’

About our guest writers:

ERIN KELLY
Erin Kelly read English at Warwick University and has worked as a freelance journalist for over ten years. She has written for publications including Psychologies, Red and Mail on Sunday YOU magazine. Her first novel, The Poison Tree, was published in hardback last year to critical acclaim and has now been selected for Richard & Judy’s Summer Book Club 2011. The Sick Rose is Erin’s second novel. Erin lives in North London with her husband and young daughter. To find out more about Erin and her writing visit: www.erinkelly.co.uk

LOUISE MILLAR
Louise Millar is an author and a freelance journalist. She began her journalism career working for Kerrang!, Smash Hits, the NME and Empire. She later moved into features, working as a commissioning editor on women's magazines. She has written for Marie Claire Red, Psychologies, Stella, the Independent, the Observe, Glamour and Stylist. Louise lives in North London with her husband and daughters. You can read more about Louise and her writing at: www.louisemillar.wordpress.com

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