First Act

Old betrayals, new revenge…

It’s 2008, and London is a frenzy of activity as the capital demolishes and rebuilds ready to host the Olympics.

Detective Kelly Porter has landed her dream job in the Met’s Major Investigation Team – the murder squad.

Human remains are unearthed by a bulldozer. The corpse was laid recently enough to warrant investigation. Kelly does some digging of her own and is led to the Museum of Childhood.

But this is only the start. A fresh murder scene bearing a mutilated corpse soon follows. A legacy of horror and a killer determined to punish their victim awaits. They’re setting the stage for a grand finale.

Kelly’s choices will make her a spectator to the gruesome theatre, or even a puppet under the command of another, unless her instinct for the truth can get her one step ahead.

More than one million readers have become hooked on Rachel Lynch’s Detective Kelly Porter novels. Read the story that started it all.

PRAISE FOR FIRST ACT

‘A complex, pacy, thoughtful and deeply moving novel – this is the prequel of all prequels!’ Sheila Bugler

‘A fast-paced, ultra-creepy thriller with a great sense of place and relatable characters’ Catherine Cooper

‘There’s a darkness at the heart of First Act that feeds into our deepest insecurities, turning our fears inwards. I absolutely tore through it’ Marion Todd

‘A fiendish, fast-paced story. I loved it’ Sarah Ward

‘Beautifully written with some genuinely skin-creeping moment’ Daniel Sellers

FIVE STAR READER REVIEWS FOR FIRST ACT

‘This gripped me from the start… A fabulous 5 star prequel!’

‘Jaw dropping! Mind blowing! What an eye opener!’

‘Engrossing, full of twists and turns, fast paced, nail biting, page turning and unputdownable’

‘Enjoyable from the first to last page’

‘A strong introduction to Kelly Porter’s early years and a gripping read in its own right. Clever, tense and engaging’

‘A thoroughly enjoyable novel, plotted with Lynch's usual expert skill’

Mind blowing, a masterclass in suspense and gripping. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I sped through all of the chapters!’

‘The tension is thick, the atmosphere ominous, and the twists are genuinely shocking and the ending had my jaw on the floor! 10/10’

‘A wonderful story that deserves all the stars’

‘What an absolute treat to get a look at Kelly’s past life … lots of twists, turns and some shocking character revelations, too’