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2011 Nominated

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ABOUT
THE BOOK

Leon’s partner died in his bath, and although the police report said she took her own life . . . she didn’t. When he meets Margot, overweight, lacking in confidence and recently separated, he sees an opportunity. Her life’s a mess. Who better to help her put it back together than a man who’s recovering from his own girlfriend’s tragic demise? Dragging her into a very intense, sexual relationship, which she realises, all too late, is one giant power game, Leon moves her into his flat and sets her up with a new career, introducing her to all the contacts she could need. How could she ever manage without him? If his ideas go to plan, she’ll never need to worry about that.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Esther
Verhoef

Esther Verhoef (b. 1968) is one of the Netherlands’ most successful and versatile authors. No other writer of thriller fiction has received and been nominated for as many prizes. Her psychological thrillers and novels have sold almost three million copies in the Netherlands. She also writes under the pseudonym Nova Lee Maier.

Esther Verhoef (b. 1968) is one of the Netherlands’ most successful and versatile authors. No other writer of thriller fiction has received and been nominated for as many prizes. Her psychological thrillers and novels have sold almost three million copies in the Netherlands. She also writes under the pseudonym Nova Lee Maier.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Paul
Vincent

Paul Vincent is a Dutch translator, currently living in London. He studied German, French and Dutch at Cambridge University and taught Dutch for many years at London University before becoming a full- time translator. He has translated over thirty books of fiction and non-fiction, winning the 2011 Vondel Prize for his version of My Little War by Louis Paul Boon. In poetry he has translated among others Achterberg, Reve, Hooft, Elsschot, Bredero, Vondel, Jellema, Claus, Nolens (An English Anthology, Carcanet, 2018), Marsman (Reid Poetry Prize), Gorter, Gezelle, One Hundred Dutch-Language Poems (with John Irons; won Oxford -Weidenfeld Prize, 2016).

Paul Vincent is a Dutch translator, currently living in London. He studied German, French and Dutch at Cambridge University and taught Dutch for many years at London University before becoming a full- time translator. He has translated over thirty books of fiction and non-fiction, winning the 2011 Vondel Prize for his version of My Little War by Louis Paul Boon. In poetry he has translated among others Achterberg, Reve, Hooft, Elsschot, Bredero, Vondel, Jellema, Claus, Nolens (An English Anthology, Carcanet, 2018), Marsman (Reid Poetry Prize), Gorter, Gezelle, One Hundred Dutch-Language Poems (with John Irons; won Oxford -Weidenfeld Prize, 2016).

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

If you like your crime fiction suspenseful, erotically romantic, tense and racy, this is the book. It is smoothly translated and has an attractive protagonist.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
The Netherlands
Original Language
Dutch
Publisher
Quercus Publishing
Translator
Paul Vincent

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