The Stepdaughter

“I live in a village of stone walls and tall trees, a place of cold hearts and secrets . . .”
 
When Elise Buckley moved with her family to Abingworth, it was supposed to be a new start. She hoped the little English village, with its scattering of houses, pub, and village church, wouldn’t offer enough opportunity for her doctor husband, Andrew, to continue having affairs. Apparently, she was wrong. Now Elise’s only goal is to maintain the façade of a happy homelife for their teenage daughter, Niamh.
 
When the body of Niamh’s best friend, Hollie, is found, the entire village is rocked. Elise, though generally distrustful since Andrew’s infidelity, believed that Hollie was loved by her father and stepmother. Yet there was something unsettling beneath the girl’s smile. As the police investigation stalls amid disjointed evidence, it’s Niamh who unknowingly holds the key . . .
 
Flitting between the villagers’ lives, silent and unseen, Elise is learning about the relationships and secrets that surround her—including those close to home. And as her daughter edges closer to a killer, Elise realizes that the truth may eclipse even her worst suspicions . . .
 
Praise for Debbie Howells and Her Novels
 
“A nail-biter from British author Howells. . . . Fans of psychological thrillers will be rewarded.”
—Publishers Weekly on Her Sister’s Lie
 
“A combination of lyrical writing and smart mystery. It's a winner.”
—Sandra Block on The Beauty of the End
 
“An intriguing dark psychological thriller—truly brilliant!"
—Lisa Jackson on The Bones of You
 
“Has been compared to Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones. Unusual and haunting.”
—Library Journal on The Bones of You