Dead Scared (Lacey Flint Novels)

Dead Scared (Lacey Flint Novels)

When a rash of suicides tears through Cambridge University, DI Mark Joesbury recruits DC Lacey Flint to go undercover as a student to investigate. Although each student's death appears to be a suicide, the psychological histories, social networks, and online activities of the students involved share remarkable similarities, and the London police are not convinced that the victims acted alone. They believe that someone might be preying on lonely and insecure students and either encouraging them to take their own lives or actually luring them to their deaths. As long as Lacey can play the role of a vulnerable young woman, she may be able to stop these deaths, but is it just a role for her? With her fragile past, is she drawing out the killers, or is she herself being drawn into a deadly game where she's a perfect victim? Dark and compelling, S. J. Bolton's latest thriller―a follow-up to the acclaimed Now You See Me ―is another work of brilliant psychological suspense that plumbs the most sinister depths. “Outstanding. . .Bolton never eases up the tension; her tightly coiled plot and heroine on the edge work perfectly in tandem.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review, Pick of the Week) “A number of superlatives could be used to describe Bolton's new work, but a simple "wow!" will do. After reading the last sentence, I realized I had been holding my breath during the final page or two. Yes, the ending is that gripping. The story's atmosphere is dark and spooky, the main characters are strong yet vulnerable and the plot is refreshingly unpredictable. This stunning psychological thriller is well worth your time. You'll be hooked from page one.” ― RT Book Reviews (4½ Stars, Top Pick) “Readers will be caught up in the twists and turns that leave them hanging until the final paragraph.” ― Library Journal (starred review) “Credible characters, an evocative setting, and a chilling group of clever sadists make the latest from Bolton a satisfying and suspenseful read.” ― Booklist “S. J. Bolton is changing the face of crime fiction--if you only read one crime novel this year, make it this.” ― Tess Gerritsen on Now You See Me “ Now You See Me is really special: multi-layered and sophisticated, but tough too.” ― Lee Child on Now You See Me “Bolton provides excruciating tension and much else. Romantics can drool over Joesbury's turquoise eyes; amateur psychologists can mull Lacey's one-nighters; and Ripperologists can ponder theories of Jack's real identity, one of which helps tie up the plot.” ― Kirkus Reviews on Now You See Me “The twists keep coming, and the truth is not revealed until the final page in Bolton's best novel yet.” ― Library Journal (starred review) on Now You See Me “Nice atmosphere and good Ripper lore.” ― Booklist on Now You See Me “Bolton's fourth thriller, a complex psychological puzzler, stands head and shoulders above other such efforts featuring a modern copycat Jack the Ripper. . .Bolton skillfully plays with the reader's expectations.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Now You See Me “Excellent. . . Now You See Me is a cerebral thriller that avoids clichés. Each twist and turn is unpredictable as are the fully drawn characters' actions.” ― Oline H. Cogdill, South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Now You See Me SHARON BOLTON is a Mary Higgins Clark Award winner and an ITW Thriller Award, CWA Gold Dagger and Barry Award nominee. Sharon Bolton was previously published as S.J. Bolton. Dead Scared By S. J. Bolton Minotaur Books Copyright © 2012 S. J. Bolton All right reserved. ISBN: 9780312600532 Dead Scared 1 Friday 11 January (eleven days earlier)   A LL BAR ONE NEAR WATERLOO STATION WAS BUSY, WITH nearly a hundred people shouting to make themselves heard above the music. Smoking has been banned in the UK's public places for years but something seemed to be hovering around these folk, thickening the air, turning the scene around me into an out-of-focus photograph taken on a cheap camera.I knew instinctively he wasn't there.No need to look at my watch to know I was sixteen minutes late. I'd timed it to the second. Too late would look rude, or as if I were trying to make a point; too close to the agreed time would seem eager. Calm and professional, that's what I was going to be. A little distant. Being a bit late was part of that. Except now he was the one who was late.At the bar, I ordered my usual drink-for-difficult-occasions and stretched up on to a vacant bar stool. Sipping the colourless liquid, I could see my reflection in the mirrors behind the bar. I'd come straight from work. Somehow, I'd resisted the temptation to leave early and spend the better part of two hours showering, blow-drying my hair, putting on make-up and choosing clothes. I'd been determined not to look nice for Mark Joesbury.I fished my laptop out of my bag and put it down on the bar -not actually planning to work, just to make it look that way - and opened a presentation on the UK's laws on pornography t