'This is a wonderful novel, powerful, humane and moving. It's also one of the best police procedurals I've read this year' Ann Cleeves

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Can you really keep your child safe?
What if who they are puts them at risk?

And what if they have blood on their hands?

Teenager Allie Kennaway heads off for prom night, cheered on by her dad Steve and little sister Teagan. But Allie never comes home, beaten to death in an apparent hate crime because of her transgender identity.

As police investigate the brutal murder, a crime that has appalled the country, one parent is at her wit's end with her son's behaviour. Are his outbursts and silences hiding something much darker than adolescent mood swings? And if her suspicions are correct, then what does she do?

Another parent fights tooth and nail to save his boy from the full force of the law. But if he succeeds then Allie and her family will never get the justice they deserve.

A groundbreaking story of love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, in a world of change.

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Praise for Cath Staincliffe

'Staincliffe deserves to be better known. Her books make her readers question how they would respond in a challenging situation' Ann Cleeves (Best Books of The Week)

'Harrowing and humane. A real knockout' Ian Rankin

'It's always exciting to see a writer get better and better and Cath Staincliffe is doing just that' Val McDermid

'Remarkable depth ... The most grown-up writer in British crime fiction' Telegraph

'Complex and satisfying' Sunday Times

'Her finest novel yet, emotionally unsparing, powerful, humane and moving . . . This is a timely, brave and brilliant book' Crime Review

About the Author
Cath Staincliffe is an award winning novelist, radio playwright and creator of ITV's hit series Blue Murder. Cath's books have been shortlisted for the CWA Best First Novel award. She was joint winner of the CWA Short Story Dagger in 2012. Letters To My Daughter's Killer was selected for the Specsavers Crime Thriller Book Club on ITV3 in 2014. Cath also writes the Scott & Bailey books based on the popular ITV series. She lives with her family in Manchester.

Reviews
Powerful, complex and utterly gripping * Sunday Mirror *
An intelligent and emotionally engaging moral workout * Daily Telegraph *
Cath Staincliffe gets into the heads of ordinary people and makes them extraordinary -- Ann Cleeves
It's always exciting to see a writer get better and better and Cath Staincliffe is doing just that -- Val McDermid
Complex and satisfying * Sunday Times *
For her insistence on looking real life squarely in the face I would call Staincliffe the most grown-up writer in British crime fiction ... her novel is mercilessly exciting too * The Telegraph on The Silence Between Breaths *
A sensitive and humane writer whose talent for characterisation ... is the fuel for real suspense * The Guardian *
A powerful, complex, gripping, perfectly paced book that packs a punch * The People *
Emotionally unsparing, this expertly written police procedural is also an outstanding thriller, hard to put aside even for the sake of sleep. * Morning Star *
This is a wonderful novel, powerful, humane and moving. It's also one of the best police procedurals I've read this year -- Ann Cleeves
Her finest novel yet, emotionally unsparing, powerful, humane and moving . . . This is a timely, brave and brilliant book * Crime Review *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472125392
Author Cath Staincliffe
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Constable
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 234g
Dimensions(mm) 199mm * 133mm * 21mm