The Second Woman

An addictive French noir about gaslighting and control: 'at once both difficult to look at and away from' Christine Mangan

Louise Mey, Louise Rogers Lalaurie

• Publisher: Pushkin Press
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN:
  9781782277163
• Print ISBN:
  9781782277156
• Subtopic: Crime & Mystery Literature

AN IMMERSIVE, DEEPLY AFFECTING NOVEL ABOUT COERCIVE CONTROL AND SURVIVAL THAT TURNS ON A KNIFE EDGE - THE PERFECT LITERARY SUSPENSE FOR FANS OF LULLABY, MY ABSOLUTE DARLING AND PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN 'At once both difficult to look at and away from' Christine Mangan, author of Tangerine 'Brutal and brilliant' Jessica Moor, author of Keeper 'Astonishingly immersive and chilling' Lisa Harding, author of Bright Burning Things 'A brilliant portrayal of psychological violence and female strength' Anna Bailey, author of Tall Bones -------- Missing persons don't always stay that way Sandrine is unhappy in her body, her house and her life. But none of that matters when she meets her man. He makes room for her, a place in his home, with his son. He cares about where she is, who she is speaking to. He loves her, intensely. Everything would be perfect, if only the first woman, the one from before, would just stay away... TV RIGHTS SOLD FOR ADAPTATIONSHORTLISTED FOR THE MAISON DE LA PRESSE PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE LANDERNEAU CRIME FICTION PRIZE From a high-profile French feminist comes a noir thriller that is both a suspenseful page-turner and fiercely empathetic with victims of domestic control - not to be missed -------- PRAISE FOR THE SECOND WOMAN 'Dissects the mechanisms of psychological violence in a terribly sharp way' Marie Claire, France 'Handles the suspense brilliantly, in an atmosphere of suffocating, escalating anxiety...' Babelio 'Written by a vigilant and talented storyteller, it sends shivers down your spine' Le Parisien 'It really got under my skin. An emotionally charged ending too, which I loved - nail-biting!' Emma Curtis, author of Invite Me In 'A masterful depiction of coercive control and its far-reaching impact. An important book to be out in the world' Debbie Howells, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Vow -------- READERS LOVE THE SECOND WOMAN 'This book is immensely dark, enthralling and riveting. Sandrine is not a reliable narrator... and allows the novel to creep up on you, gradually holding you in its grip... This story will not leave you for a long time' ***** 'Creepy, paranoid, dark, compelling and very moving' ***** 'The Second Woman is absolutely phenomenal. A chilling, intense thriller, which circles around domestic abuse and controlling relationships' 'This novel had me gripped from the very first page and I couldn't put it down, losing sleep to try and finish it... It was unpredictable and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat' 'It was definitely a five-star knock-out...'

Table of contents

• PRAISE
• TITLE PAGE
• CONTENTS
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20
• 21
• 22
• 23
• 24
• AUTHOR’S NOTE
• READING GROUP QUESTIONS
• AVAILABLE AND COMING SOON FROM PUSHKIN PRESS
• ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• COPYRIGHT