Author:Leah Konen,Karissa Vacker,Erin Deward,Kelsey Navarro
Brought to you by Penguin.
It was supposed to be a holiday... The gripping new psychological thriller from the author of 2020's twistiest debut, One White Lie.
When her husband Harry walks out after just six months, Sam has never been in more need of a getaway.
So when her friends Diana and Margaret - newly single themselves - suggest a girls' weekend away, Sam can't accept soon enough.
But then things start to go wrong. Car trouble on the road leaves them stranded. And what's more, it's in the town where he lives.
Sam is sure a big night out can't hurt. After all, it's hardly likely that Harry would show up, right?
And no one could ever expect the night would end in murder...
Praise for Leah Konen:
'Intense, unpredictable and completely addictive' T.M. Logan
'The twists keep on coming right up to the final page. I read it in one sitting' Sarah Pinborough
'One White Lie hooked me from the start. This book has everything - engaging characters, a unique story, and an ending that will blow you away' Samantha Downing
© Leah Konen 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2022
Clever, complex and expertly planned
—— Rachel AbbottWhat a clever book, I inhaled every chapter, desperate to find out what was going on. I absolutely loved it! Those cliffhangers!
—— Andrea Mara, bestselling author of All Her FaultA brilliantly addictive, tense and twisty thriller about toxic relationships, secrets and lies
—— Alice HunterFull of secrets and twists, The Perfect Escape is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller about a group of friends who may not know one another as well as they think. With its eerie setting, unsettling plot, and shocking reveals, this book had me completely captivated from the first page to the very last
When three women embark on a trip to forget their broken lives, they become embroiled in the centre of a murder investigation. The Perfect Escape is a clever, locked room mystery that is compulsively readable and impossible to put down!
—— Wendy Walker, author of Don't Look for MeNobody writes twists like Leah Konen-this woman puts Hitchcock to shame. The Perfect Escape is somehow even more fantastic than her stunning debut, One White Lie; her sophomore effort is a gripping, whip-smart, and unforgettable pulse-pounder that left my head spinning. With its intricate plotting and truly shocking reveals, this thriller is both an addictive page-turner and a brilliant examination of female friendship, shame, and betrayals. Thriller lovers: You need this book
—— Andrea BartzThe Perfect Escape is the type of captivating, masterfully-constructed thriller you'll consume in a breathless rush-and then flip right back to the beginning to figure out how the author pulled it all off. Konen keeps the shocking twists coming while wringing nail-biting tension out of even the smallest moments. I couldn't put it down!
—— Layne FargoThis addictive read has all the elements of a perfect thriller - action packed, creepy and full of twists, it's unputdownable!
—— My WeeklyA smart thriller that really keeps you guessing
—— HeatAmusing, affecting, effervescent
—— GuardianIt is intricate, ingenious, propulsive - but it is also affecting
—— ScotsmanAn extraordinary mix of existential thriller and speculative fiction. Questions of philosophy, mathematics and astrophysics bend this novel far from the typical mold, and Le Tellier's characters must confront the deepest questions of existence. This thought-provoking literary work deserves a wide readership
—— Publishers WeeklyA French literary phenomenon...The Anomaly captured a moment when the pandemic stopped the world and existence veered toward the virtual. It swerves between various genres - science fiction, a thriller, love stories, an introspective work - without being confined by any of them
—— New York TimesWritten with such page-turning conviction that readers are guaranteed a thoroughly enjoyable intellectual workout
—— The TimesThe buzz around this Goncourt prize-winner is richly deserved, and just when you think you've worked it out . . . well, you probably haven't
—— Daily MailIntriguing
—— SFXA flight of imagination you'll be rolling over in your mind long after deplaning
—— Washington PostA striking thought experiment...Le Tellier delivers some sharp social comedy here. But behind the comedy are more profound psychological questions about individual freedom. The Anomaly is priceless
—— Times Literary SupplementA witty, erudite novel, teeming and minutely detailed, a treat throughout, with-at its centre-that head-spinning conceit that will leave you deep in thought for a long time after reading the final page. It is rare to have so much fun with something so intelligent
—— Nicolas Mathieu , author of And Their Children After Them, winner of the 2018 Prix GoncourtThe Anomaly is thought-provoking and philosophical yet thrilling too, with superbly drawn characters, a dynamic plot, and a fascinating question at its heart - what if the entire world as we know it is a lie?
—— Andrew Hunter MurrayA speculative thriller from literary powerhouse Hervé le Tellier. Perfect for those who like their realities unstable
—— Crime ReadsMind-bending
—— The TimesHumorous, captivating, thoughtful - existentialism has never been so thrilling
—— Kirkus ReviewsManifest meets Lost in The Anomaly...a puzzle box of a sci-fi thriller
—— PopSugarAn extraordinary, fast-paced, disturbing novel, perfect for these extraordinary, fast-paced, disturbing times. Think Steven Spielberg meets Umberto Eco with a side order of black humour, generously sprinkled with genuine emotion
—— Sam Taylor , author of The Island At The End Of The WorldA uniquely, gloriously, provocatively French contribution to the sci-fi thriller genre - it will keep you guessing, get your heart pounding, and make you feel and wonder and - above all - think
—— Sam J. Miller , Nebula-Award winning author of Blackfish CityIn The Anomaly, Hervé Le Tellier has delivered a volatile and compelling thriller that has you hurtling toward the mystery at the heart of the novel from page one. The Anomaly is a gripping and moving blend of Blake Crouch's Dark Matter, the television show Lost, with a bit of The Philadelphia Experiment thrown in for good measure. I couldn't put it down.
—— Terry Miles , author of RabbitsExhilarating, thought-provoking, funny, and devastating. The Anomaly is unlike anything else I've read this year
—— Laure Van Rensburg , author of Nobody But UsI was completely blown away by this genre-defying masterpiece. Part thriller, part philosophical rumination on what makes us human, and with a dash of theoretical physics; this is an absolute must-read
—— Sarah Bonner , author of Her Perfect TwinThe Anomaly is a brilliant balancing act of a novel, a fantastic rush and ride that works on myriad levels, at various depths, and in a multitude of styles. It's a precise and erudite literary treat, a comedic sociopolitical-religious skewering of these contemporary times, a philosophical-scientific-mathematical dive into the puzzles of possibility, space, and time, and an ingenious thought experiment that lends itself easily to ad infinitum analysis and dissection. It's also entirely grounded in human nature. Le Tellier's pointillistic characters are, like all of us, buffeted by desires, seeking love, striving, aging, making good and bad decisions, choosing the right or wrong paths, believing they know and understand themselves, utterly trusting in free will. Highly intelligent, ironic without cheap cynicism, The Anomaly is an immensely fun novel, an immersive experience that leaves the reader analysing everything anew
—— Cherise Wolas , author of The Resurrection of Joan Ashby and The Family TaborThe year has only just begun but I will be surprised if I read something as astonishing as The Anomaly in the next 12 months
—— ScotsmanIt's dizzying, exhilarating, brilliant!
—— Nicholas Carreau , Europe 1An intoxicating mix of the magical and life's big questions
—— Financial TimesHervé le Tellier's new novel is an exquisite, insane surprise. Quite simply astounding
—— Le Journal du DimancheAn addictive page-turner, The Anomaly flirts with thriller and science fiction, and mirrors the best televisions series in its very effective orchestration of suspense. Filled with fascination existential and metaphysical questions, this is an effective, funny and discreetly melancholy novel
—— Le MondeA brilliant, extremely inventive book. Like an astounding screenplay for an American blockbuster, written by a Frenchman who is having fun with it
—— Olivia de Lamberterie , France 2Hervé le Tellier has written an impossible novel. It's a thriller but also a fantasy. A choral novel, which is also surrealist. An adventure, a page turner, a bestseller, but also an experimental, highly literary work
—— Frederic Beigbeder , Le Figaro MagazineA delight. Intricate, ingenious, propulsive - but also affecting, with numerous moments that are terribly poignant along with its puzzles and winks
—— iHow would society respond to the inexplicable? This is the question the author tries, with intelligence, elegance and humour, to answer. Hervé le Tellier has written a frank and gripping novel with complex, moving characters. You won't be able to put it down!
—— Claire Bitaudeau , Librairie MillepagesEffervescent playfulness . . . Hilariously deadpan
—— GuardianThe novel is a tour de force which both dives into the personal lives of several characters and at the same time gives a group perspective on an international event which verges on science fiction. The taut rhythm of the investigation keeps the reader on tenterhooks
—— Toute La CultureThe situations are mad, but the questions they raise, far less so. Such is the profundity of this astonishing book: it makes light of itself, lending an air of fantasy to the fates of its characters, while Hervé le Tellier holds a mirror up before us
—— Le FigaroA master of one-touch characterisation. Le Tellier's genius is in making the unimaginable feel authentic
—— MetroLe Tellier, throughout this flight, deposits on the tarmac his stunned reader, ready to applaud
—— L'OpinionLe Tellier is a masterful writer and his staggering story verges on thriller and science fiction
—— Version FeminaSomewhere between fable and science fiction, it's a fascinating novel
—— La Depeche du MidiThe novel weaves a surprising story out of several narrative threads which give Hervé le Tellier the opportunity to touch on as many literary genres as he does themes, in a biting and often funny critique of the start of the 21st century
—— En Attendant NadeauExcellent...at once zeitgeisty, intelligent, and entertaining
—— Charlie HebdoFantastic...The Anomaly wears its name well: it's rare in France that a work combines the best of American TV series with an impeccable mastery of the French psychological novel
—— Elle FranceDizzying, compelling
—— RTE GuideMind-bending. Herve Le Tellier's emotional and intellectual rollercoaster is well worth the ride
—— The Times Literary SupplementA delightfully confounding thriller . . . Le Tellier's prose is beautifully efficient and capable of quiet devastation
—— London Review of BooksCompelling . . . A disturbing and complex tale about dysfunctional mother-daughter relationships. It's not always an easy read but it's absolutely one you won't be able to put down
—— CultureflyIncluded in 'Books for 2021'
—— SunThe mother of all thrillers! Like The Girl on the Train - but better!
—— Daily MailUtterly mesmerising. Ashley Audrain's powerful debut novel explores the challenges of motherhood and the terrifying isolation of being trapped within a sinister truth that no-one else believes.
—— Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Beekeeper's PromiseOne of the most anticipated novels of this year . . . fast-paced, it has the ability to distract you from anything. Exactly what we need right now
—— GraziaWritten with an unflinching eye and a stylistically sharp, tight economy The Push is a single-sitting read, as suspenseful as any thriller, as thoughtful as any literary novel, with an almost physical force behind each of its turns and revelations. By the end, the reader will feel wrung out in the way only the best of books leaves you. Audrain's debut is a stunning, devastating novel and, frankly, one hell of a way to start a year of reading
—— Toronto StarIncluded in 'Books to Watch 2021'
—— Evening StandardHooks you from the very first page and will have you racing to get to the end
—— Book Club Selection , Good Morning AmericaIncluded in 'Best New Books'
—— New York PostThis is a sterling addition to the burgeoning canon of bad seed suspense, from an arrestingly original new voice
—— Publishers WeeklyThis taut and tense hurricane of a debut is best devoured in one sitting
—— NewsweekThis dazzling debut mixes page-turning suspense with a psychological drama
—— Working MotheerOnce you start in on this story, it becomes difficult to control yourself. A twisted, tight, and exhilarating drama
—— GoopThis psychological thriller about a mother's bond with her daughter will keep you turning pages
—— Woman's DayThis nuanced book challenges the notion of nature versus nurture, and whether a mother's love is enough. It's disturbing, painful and brilliant, holding a mirror up to society
—— Woman's WeeklyThe Push is a thriller that is also a compelling examination of motherhood and of how trauma is passed down through generations
—— HeraldA tense, chilling dip into the dark side of motherhood . . . The Push is uncomfortable and provocative, like a train wreck that demands your gaze
—— Washington PostThe most tense, thrilling read that will chill and enthral in equal measure
—— SunDisturbingly brilliant . . . will render you speechless
—— Woman & Home 'Book of the Month'A page-turning debut crafted with shrewd expertise - read it before the inevitable screen adaptation
—— MetroUnflinching, moving and very, very powerful
—— GraziaThe clever and powerful psychological thriller everyone has been talking about . . . an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— My WeeklyAudrain has the ability to mesmerise . . . heart-wrenching. A dark, pacy read
—— My WeeklyA compelling, visceral and bruising portrayal of motherhood that once read cannot ever be forgotten
—— Woman & HomeA chilling and beautifully written novel that will strike dread into the heart of any new parent. The ending gave me goosebumps
—— Mark Edwards, bestselling author of Here To StayA powerful debut about obsession and our deepest fears . . . will have you hooked
—— Living NorthExploring the dysfunctional lives of three generations of women, The Push deals with the way damage is handed down
—— Literary ReviewA thought-provoking novel that delves deep into the emotional crevices of motherhood
—— CourierTaut and gripping, this is a provocative look at motherhood
—— PsychologiesThe Push is an unsettling and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— Eastern Daily PressA gripping and vivid thriller . . . It's easy to understand why The Push has caught the attention of Hollywood film producers
—— Business PostCompelling
—— The HeraldRemarkably told story which I couldn't put down. Deftly drawn characters...What a book! And the last line is creepy, haunting perfection
—— Christina Sweeney Baird, author of The End of MenThe danger that simmers throughout is so unbearably tense! A wonderful incisive look at maternal guilt ... the effect is staggering
—— Imran MahmoodFasten your seatbelt because this book is a face paced, page turning, psychological drama that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last line
—— The AvondhuChallenges the idyllic picture of motherhood, and will change what you know about being a mother. It is tenacious and really makes you think about what it's like when women aren't taken seriously
—— Female FirstFor fans of mum noir, The Push is an unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page
—— Eastern Daily PressThis dark, psychological thriller offers such twists and turns that we start to doubt what we believe . . . And that sharp-intake-of-breath ending!
—— Manx IndependentI didn't sleep for a week after I finished it, but that's a small price to pay for a great book
—— Lauren Weisberger, author of The Devil Wears PradaAn unflinching examination of motherhood. Audrain lets no one in the Connor family off the hook, yet every character managed to elicit my sympathy. Brilliant, insightful, compassionate, and horrifying. I wish I could read it for the first time over and over. One of the best books I've read all year
—— Stephanie WrobelOne of the most talked-about books of the year. This nuanced psychological book will make you question the notion of nature vs nurture. Disturbing, painful and brilliant
—— Woman & HomeThis unsettling debut was so riveting it had me devouring pages and then reading slowly with widened eyes
—— PrimaAddictively readable . . . shines a disturbing light into the darkest recesses of motherhood
—— Daily Mail, Must Read PaperbacksCompulsively readable
—— Daily ExpressAn unsettling, breathtaking and powerful read about obsession and our deepest fears that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
—— Eastern Daily PressA raw and visceral exploration of a mother-daughter relationship; a haunting and heartbreaking novel that will leave you thinking about it for days after you finish the last page
—— Female First