Sheep's Clothing

Two female con artists develop a scheme to exploit unsuspecting elderly women in this tense and disturbing tale, newly repackaged for Union Square & Co.’s Herald Classics line.

After their release from prison, Grace and Janice set in motion a cunning plan devised during their final weeks in lockup: pose as Social Services representatives to gain access to the homes of vulnerable older women who live alone. Their formula is almost foolproof—first they knock the old ladies out with crushed-up sleeping pills, then they make off with the cash and valuables. From libraries and supermarkets to bingo halls and post offices, the pair of scammers select their marks with a calculated, ruthless efficiency. But when one of their victims is found dead of an overdose, the whole house of cards threatens to come tumbling down.

Originally published in 1988, Celia Dale’s vividly realized final novel is a darkly humorous and suspenseful exploration of greed, deception, and moral ambiguity. Reissued in the UK by Daunt Books in 2023, it was hailed as "masterly" by The Times and "chilling" by The Guardian​.