Sun Damage
The most suspenseful crime thriller of 2023 from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lie With Me - 'perfect poolside reading' The Guardian
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4.0 • 208 Ratings
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- £0.99
Publisher Description
**THE EXPLOSIVE NEW THRILLER FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR**
The perfect holiday. The perfect crime...
When Ali has the chance to stay at a beautiful house in the south of France, she jumps at it.
But not everything is as it seems.
Surrounded by a group of wealthy friends, Ali blends expertly into the background.
She's watching them all.
And she isn't the only one interested.
The heat rises. The pool shimmers. Secrets are exposed.
And Ali must face up to the biggest lie of all: herself.
Readers love Sabine Durrant:
''I've read all of this author's books and enjoyed them. Thank you Sabine Durrant for a great read.'' meggies mum, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
''Oh I adored this novel, I raced through it in a day and bit. I was enraptured and it's definitely a winner.'' Lolly130612, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
''Could not put this down. Brilliant lead characters and such a clever plot. I love this author and this is my favourite so far - sunshine and suspense - a winning combination!'' Booklover, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
''This is a perfect holiday read set in a Villa in the South of France! Sabine Durrant's characters always have something to hide and those in SUN DAMAGE are no exception to this.'' Annette C, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
''I always look forward to a new book from this talented author, and SUN DAMAGE lived up to every expectation. It was my final read during my recent holiday in Corfu and the descriptions of the searing heat of the French setting was exquisitely done, especially as the temperatures in Greece soared that week too.'' Lincs Reader, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
''SUN DAMAGE is the perfect holiday read, not least because of how it is set against the languid backdrop of beaches and cafés, market towns and lazy lunches at a house share (with a pool, of course) in the South of France. After so many years without such a getaway insight, I felt I was more transported with each page.'' Melanie Garrett, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
''Sabine Durrant never disappoints and her new novel SUN DAMAGE is excellent, with an atmospheric setting, believable characters and twisty plot. I found the little observations about human nature quite fascinating, almost like surreptitious people watching.'' Lovebooks, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Written with Durrant's usual acuity, Sun Damage is an attractive two-for-one deal: smart observation of family life and Brits abroad in the middle, bookended by a Highsmithian thriller' SUNDAY TIMES
'Plenty of Ripleyish peril to keep the nerves on edge' CLARE CHAMBERS
'No one creates characters like Sabine Durrant' CLARE MACKINTOSH
'I tore through Sun Damage!' SJ WATSON
'Claustrophobic and suspenseful, with an engaging narrator and a satisfying twist: perfect poolside reading' GUARDIAN
'Sensuously atmospheric, Sun Damage is a twisty thriller with the added delight of acute social comedy. Without doubt Sabine Durrant's best novel yet' GILL HORNBY
'The suspense sizzles off every page' ERIN KELLY
'One of our best thriller writers' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'An exploration of vulnerability, trickery and cruel dishonesty ... the ending gives great satisfaction' LITERARY REVIEW
'Secrets and tensions rise along with the temperature until they reach boiling point' RED
'Absorbing, intriguing, with great twists and pace, SUN DAMAGE is a wonderful rollercoaster of a read' B.A. PARIS
'Durrant is relentless with the suspense ... superbly controlled, a novel that's obsidian dark under the blazing French sun' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This entertaining psychological thriller from Durant (Finders, Keepers) deploys a delicious arsenal of unexpected plot twists. Ali and Sean have made their way across India, posing as siblings and honing their skills as con artists. Now they've landed in the South of France for the busy summer season. It doesn't take them long to spot Lulu Fletcher Davies, with her first-day-of-holiday sunburn and her "sub-schoolgirl French." Lulu's dual surname makes it easy to track her down on Facebook, which provides all the information Sean and Ali need to scam the wealthy young Brit. Their plan goes terribly wrong, however, and after Lulu dies, Ali hastily packs up and runs away to Provence, fearing Sean's retaliation even more than the police's. She takes a job and a assumes a new identity in hopes of slipping under the radar, but the longer she's away, the more she begins to wonder about her former accomplice. Ali's keenly observant narration ("It's not true you can't con an honest person, but it's easier emotionally when they're not") keeps the plot moving briskly along its circuitous route, and Durrant takes witty jabs at the behavior of wealthy vacationers. This is good, Patricia Highsmith–style fun.
Customer Reviews
Brilliant
Absolutely loved this book. Made me feel quite uneasy with tension and a good few butterflies in my stomach reading it. I could feel the sun on my face. Well written. Great characters.
Just went on too long.
I was bored after the first few chapters but kept reading waiting for the story to grab me. I just gave up.
Kept me guessing right to the end
This book was the best read I’ve had this summer. Addictive characters, great plot and beautifully written.