«The Devil's Staircase» by Helen Fitzgerald

As elegant and witty as it is disturbing.' — The Daily Telegraph 'Accomplished and gloriously black comedy' — Allan Guthrie 'Lovely, sparse, elegant writing, highly original plot and ever— building tension make this book irresistible. There's sex and drugs and rock-and-roll, a whiff of true evil and a scream-out loud finale. Wow!' — Australian Women's Weekly 'Scary and stylish slice of urban noir' — Boyd Tonkin, Independent 'Colourful characters, dramatic plot twists and vibrant vernacular … a great read' The Bookseller 'Brilliant, shocking and unputdownable' — Sydney Morning Herald Bronny, a young Australian, finds herself down and out in London. She's a sweet girl who has spent her teenage years in a fearful, cautious bubble. She's never taken drugs, had sex or killed anyone. Within six weeks she's done all three. A group of backpackers break into an abandoned London townhouse seeking a rent-free life of debauchery. They don't realise someone's already there: a terrified woman bound and gagged in the basement. “The Devil's Staircase” combines a chick-lit voice and a dark crime noir environment. Not for the faint-hearted, “The Devil's Staircase” is funny, sexy and disturbing — it will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.