Description
An unmissable psychological dark academia thriller: Saltburn meets Lucy Clarke's The Hike. Pre-order now!
WHO WILL BE THE FIRST TO BREAK?
Tess enters the prestigious and exclusive Ravensthorpe Writing College with dreams of literary greatness, but soon discovers that ambition comes at a cost.
Drawn into a tight-knit group with fellow writers Ethan, Theo, and Jaz, Tess's world is upended when their charismatic tutor is found dead. Believing someone in their circle is responsible, Tess flees the elite literary world and abandons the future she once craved.
Three years later, an enigmatic invitation to walk the Camino de Santiago offers Tess a chance to uncover the truth. Reunited with her former friends, including Ethan, now a literary star, Tess realises the past isn't finished with her. Someone knows what really happened that night, and they'll do anything to keep it buried.
Readers love The Pact:'A dark and twisty story of the consequences of toxic ambition that will keep you guessing until the very end' Kayte Nunn
'This quirky and unpredictable suspense is as twisty as Spain's Camino de Santiago!' Allie Reynolds
'The path to Santiago is never straight - and neither is the truth in this gripping, twist-filled murder mystery' Donna M Cameron
'Pacy, twisty and layered revenge tale' Joanna Barnard
'Beautiful scenery, well plotted secrets and a pace that is conducive to losing your entire day'
Don't miss this dark academia, psychological suspense thriller with jaw-dropping twists, brand-new in 2026
About the Author
Lisa Walker is the author of seven novels in women's fiction and cosy crime genres, published in Australia by HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and two small presses. Two were also published by Harper360 in the US and UK, and one has been optioned for film. Her recent cosy crime novel was shortlisted for the Australian Davitt Awards in two categories.
She has also been published in The Guardian, the Big Issue and the Sydney Morning Herald, and has had a radio play produced on ABC Radio National. She is a dual Australian/British citizen, based in Australia but travelling frequently to the UK.
Reviews
Praise for The Pact:
'Clever and twisty' Jackie Kabler
'A dark and twisty story of the consequences of toxic ambition that will keep you guessing until the very end' Kayte Nunn
'This quirky and unpredictable suspense is as twisty as Spain's Camino de Santiago!' Allie Reynolds
'The path to Santiago is never straight - and neither is the truth in this gripping, twist-filled murder mystery' Donna M Cameron
'Pacy, twisty and layered revenge tale' Joanna Barnard
Praise for Lisa Walker:'Authentic and enriched by hard-won psychological insights' The Sydney Morning Herald
'Engaging, action-packed, fast-paced' Books and Publishing
'Strong, authentic female characters. A ripper read' The Big Issue
'Multifaceted, fresh and entertaining'The Adelaide Advertiser
'Clever sleuthing, lively characters, vibrant setting and snappy pace' Sisters in Crime
'Spiced with quirky humour' TheHerald Sun
Book Information
ISBN 9780008772475
Author Lisa Walker
Format Paperback
Page Count 416
Imprint HQ Digital
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 280g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 30mm
