Snap

About the book

A teenage boy hunts for his mother's killer in this Man Booker Prize-longlisted novel by "the true heir to the great Ruth Rendell" (Mail on Sunday, UK).

Just before Jack's mother disappeared up the road to get help, she put the eleven-year-old boy in charge of his two sister. As they wait for her on the shoulder of the road in their stifling, broken-down car, the three children bicker, whine and play I-Spy. But their mother never comes back. And after that long, hot summer's day, nothing will ever be the same again.

At fifteen-years-old, Jack is still in charge'''supporting his sisters any way he can while evading social services. Meanwhile, a young woman across town wakes to find a knife beside her bed, and a note reading I could of killed you. The police are tracking a mysterious burglar they call Goldilocks, for his habit of sleeping in the beds of the houses he robs. But the woman doesn't see the point of involving the police. And Jack, very suddenly, may be on the verge of finding out who killed his mother.

The Gold Dagger Award-winning author of Blacklands reaffirms her reputation for masterful, twisty crime fiction with this "unnerving suspense novel" (Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times).

Praise for this book:

"Her thrillers are always compelling, always original, always brilliant. I will rush to read anything she writes." - Mark Billingham

"'Belinda Bauer is a marvel. Her novels are almost indecently gripping and enjoyable." - Sophie Hannah

"The best crime novel I've read in a very long time." - Val McDermid

"Original, pacy and thoroughly entertaining... a cracking read." - Clare Mackintosh

"Snap is the best kind of crime novel - it gives you chills, it makes you think, and it touches your heart. I loved it!" - Sarah Pinborough