Lesley Sanderson’s chilling thriller, The Leaving Party, is published today by Bookouture.
This twisty novel is perfect for fans of K.L. Slater and The Girl on the Train. It follows Ava…
Every year on the same day, on the anniversary, I receive a single black rose. Thirteen years of dark petals, jagged thorns, dredging up memories I’ve tried to forget…
I’ve packed up my life. All my belongings are carefully sealed in labelled boxes, my suitcases ready for my big move. I’m just days away from a new life abroad with my boyfriend, Ben. No one knows the real reason I’m desperate to leave.
My best friend, Lena, is throwing me a leaving party. A celebration, to say goodbye. Champagne to toast my farewell. Speeches, full of fond memories.
No one knows what I’m running from.
Then another black rose appears, dragging up thirteen years of buried memories. My passport goes missing. The very people I am trying to escape from turn up to our house. Someone knows what I did. This party was meant to be the first night of the rest of my life – but now I don’t know if I’ll see tomorrow.
Someone knows my secret. They’re in my home, at my party, and they’re making me pay for it.
The early reviews have been incredible…
‘I couldn’t stop turning the pages fast enough. High five for Lesley Sanderson. A thoroughly engaging read.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘A very quick and compelling story that I read in a couple of very short hours… unable to tear myself away for any reason.’ Rachel’s Random Reads, 5 stars
‘I sat down to read this book before dinner… and didn’t put it down until I fell asleep that night.’ The Sweet Wanderlust, 5 stars
Lesley is the author of The Orchid Girls and The Woman at 46 Heath Street. Lesley’s debut novel, The Orchid Girls was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize 2017, and in June last year, it was announced that she’s sold an outstanding 30,000 copies across both of her previous titles.
Lesley Sanderson graduated from the Curtis Brown Creative six-month novel writing course in March 2016 before her debut novel, The Orchid Girls, was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize in 2017. She works as a secondary school librarian in King’s Cross, after studying French & Theatre Studies at Warwick University.
