Rosamund Lupton meets Lupin in this accomplished debut from an eclectic, cut-throat new voice in thriller writing.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CRIMEFEST SPECSAVERS AWARD FOR DEBUT CRIME NOVEL

**DON'T MISS MEGAN DAVIS' NEXT THRILLER, BAY OF THIEVES. AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW**

'A sleek, sinister debut' WOMAN'S OWN
'A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars' JANICE HALLETT
'An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent' SOPHIE HANNAH
'A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris' CHRIS WHITAKER

A crime he didn't commit. A truth he must deliver.

Wealthy and privileged, Alex has an easy path to success in the Parisian elite his father mingles with. But the two have never seen eye to eye. Desperate to escape the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of their apartment, Alex seeks freedom on the streets of Paris where his new-found friend Sami teaches him how to survive. But everything has a price - and one night of rebellion changes their lives forever.

A simple plan to steal money takes a sinister turn when Alex's father is found dead. Despite protesting their innocence, both boys are imprisoned for murder. Seven years later Alex is released from prison with a single purpose: to discover who really killed his father. Yet as he searches for answers and atones for the sins of his past, Alex uncovers a disturbing truth with far-reaching consequences.

Playing out against a backdrop of corruption, fake news and civil unrest, The Messenger exposes the gritty reality of a changing city through one son's journey to redemption and the truth.

'Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable' ELIZABETH MACNEAL

'A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place' KAMILA SHAMSIE

'Compelling ... A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets' DOMINIC NOLAN

Rosamund Lupton meets Lupin in this accomplished debut from an eclectic, cut-throat new voice in thriller writing.

About the Author
Megan Davis was born in Australia and grew up in mining towns across the world. She has worked in the film industry and her credits include Atonement, In Bruges, Pride and Prejudice and the Bourne films. Megan is also a lawyer and is currently an associate at Spotlight on Corruption. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Her debut, The Messenger, won the Bridport Prize for a First Novel in 2018, judged by Kamila Shamsie, as well as the Lucy Cavendish Prize for unpublished writers in 2021. She has lived in many places, including France for a number of years, but now lives in London.

Reviews
A sleek, sinister debut * Woman's Own *
A conspiracy thriller with strong Catcher In The Rye vibes, The Messenger is so evocatively written it transported me to Paris and tore up my return ticket. A strong, twisting, literary journey of revelation and redemption. Five stars * Janice Hallett *
An intelligent, gripping and stylish literary thriller - I couldn't put it down. Megan Davis is a major new talent * Sophie Hannah *
A sharply written, clever and classy thrill-ride through the streets of Paris. Atmospheric and twisting, The Messenger is a wonderful debut * Chris Whitaker *
A well-written, intriguing novel with an excellent sense of place * Kamila Shamsie *
Megan Davis's electric, suspenseful and stunning evocation of contemporary Paris is unforgettable * Elizabeth Macneal *
An elegantly written, compelling thriller, baked into a rich Paris of riots, sex and excitement. A deft blend of murder mystery, political intrigue and family secrets * Dominic Nolan, author of Vine Street *
An unusual and engaging mixture of a conspiracy story concerning both the cold war and modern gangster capitalism, along with a coming-of-age tale of revenge and redemption * Morning Star *
Few, if any, English-writing authors have caught the essence of modern Paris with such accuracy and powers of evocation; add a compelling plot with social, personal and political issues to the fore and you have a splendid thriller debut to die for * Maxim Jakubowski *
Pulsating ... It's a thrill ride from start to finish * Wigan Today *



Book Information
ISBN 9781838778606
Author Megan Davis
Format Paperback
Page Count 448
Imprint Zaffre
Publisher Zaffre
Weight(grams) 326g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 25mm