From the author of The Missing Girl, Jenny Quintana's gripping novel, Our Dark Secret, tells the story of two girls, two deaths and two decades of silence . . .

The crazy girls, they called them - or at least, Elizabeth liked to think they did. As a teenager in the late 1970s, she was clever, overweight and a perfect victim for the bullies. Then Rachel and her family arrived in town and, for Elizabeth, it was as if a light had been switched on. She was drawn to the bright and beautiful Rachel like a moth to a flame.

Rachel had her own reasons for wanting Elizabeth as a friend, and although their relationship was far from equal, Elizabeth would do anything for Rachel.

Then the first body was discovered.

Twenty years on, Elizabeth wants nothing more than to keep the secrets of her teenage years where they belong: in the past. But another body has been found, and she can't keep running from what happened.

Can she?

From the author of The Missing Girl, Our Dark Secret is a novel about female friendship, long-buried secrets and what happens when the truth finally emerges . . .

About the Author
Jenny Quintana grew up in Essex and Berkshire before studying English Literature in London. She has taught in London, Seville and Athens and has also written books for teaching English as a foreign language. Her first novel, The Missing Girl, was chosen as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month. She now lives with her family in Berkshire. Our Dark Secret is her second novel.

Reviews
Emotional and gripping: Our Dark Secret confirms Jenny Quintana as the mistress of the heartbreaking thriller -- Erin Kelly, author of He Said/She Said and Stone Mothers
Darkly compelling, tender characterisation - I read this in a few greedy gulps -- Jane Shemilt, author of Daughter and Little Friends
Bittersweet, full of growing menace, yet poignant and full of longing . . . Fans of The Missing Girl will fall in love with this! -- Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend
Jenny Quintana is a rare talent . . . Superb plotting, razor-sharp characterisation, and a creeping sense of dread makes Our Dark Secret a novel that you won't be able to put down -- Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies and Stone Cold Heart
A compulsive page-turner; a beautifully written coming-of-age story; a murder mystery peopled with characters who live and breathe . . . and a brilliant read -- Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle and The Neighbour
Excellent - a dark and moving mystery, woven from the tales of truly memorable characters -- Rachel Edwards, author of Darling
Our Dark Secret has everything I look for in a novel - beautiful writing, memorable characters and a gripping mystery. Elizabeth is a wonderful creation - I worried for her, rooted for her and feared her in equal measure. Bravo Jenny! -- Emily Elgar, author of If You Knew Her and Grace is Gone
Emotional and heartfelt this is a dark, atmospheric coming of age story that's beautifully written, and grips from the start. One to watch out for! -- Amanda Jennings, author of In Her Wake and The Cliff House
Part coming of age story, part mystery, totally gripping! -- Jo Jakeman, author of Sticks and Stones and Safe House
Crime fans will love Our Dark Secret for the unguessable murder mystery at the heart of the plot. But the book is also a beautifully nostalgic coming of age story with subtly engaging characters whose heartbreaking dilemmas turn our initial perceptions inside out. The novel is so acutely observed and involving that it has the power to transport all of us who grew up in the 1970s back to the chicken chasseur, Barry White and Purdy-haircut filled suburbia of our childhoods -- Carolyn Kirby, author of The conviction of Cora Burns and When We Fall
Addictive * Woman's Weekly *
The friendship of two girls bonded by secrets fizzes on a slow burning fuse that has you waiting for the big bang when the past explosively catches up * Peterborough Telegraph *



Book Information
ISBN 9781509839469
Author Jenny Quintana
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Mantle
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 522g
Dimensions(mm) 242mm * 162mm * 29mm