First published 2017
Florence Brown lives in the shadow of her sister Phoebe, a successful London actress whose confidence makes Florence's own depression feel heavier. When the sisters quarrel, Florence attempts suicide and flees from a prescribed stay at a nursing home. She encounters Mrs. Jolly, an older woman who offers comfort and promises to help her recover. Florence accepts this kindness from a stranger, desperate for someone who understands her pain. Weeks pass with no word from Florence. Phoebe grows worried and begins searching for clues about her sister's whereabouts. She teams up with Inspector Johnson to investigate the enigmatic Mrs. Jolly, but the woman's true identity remains elusive. As Phoebe digs deeper into the mystery, she risks falling into the same trap that may have ensnared Florence. The search becomes a race to discover what Mrs. Jolly really wants and whether Florence can be saved.
Genres: suspense, mystery, contemporary, psychological-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unreliable-narrator
Setting: London
Period: contemporary
199 pages · Paperback · Independently published
Content warnings: depression, mental-illness, suicide