THE TOP-TEN BESTSELLER!

'Thought-provoking and clever' Gilly Macmillan

'A tense and moving story that I will remember for a long time' Rachel Abbott

'This tense psychological thriller focuses relentlessly on the way its characters cope as stress piles up and the mess deepens' Sunday Times

'Thought-provoking' Woman & Home

'I raced through it. A compelling, emotional read' Jenny Quintana

'Dark, intelligent, suspenseful' Saskia Sarginson

The accused

While Nick Dean is enjoying an evening at home with his family, he is blissfully unaware that one of his pupils has just placed an allegation of abuse against him - and that Nick's imminent arrest will see the start of everything he knows and loves disintegrating around him.

Because, mud sticks, right? No matter if you're innocent or guilty.

The accuser

When Angela Furness decides that enough is enough - she hates her parents, hates her friends and, most of all, despises what has recently happened at school - she does the only thing she knows will get her attention: calls the police. But Angela is unaware that the shocking story she is about to tell will see her life begin to topple.

Because, once you've said what you've said, there's no way back, right? No matter if you're innocent or guilty.

Richard and Judy and international bestselling author of The Guilty One returns with a nail-biting ride of 'he said/she said' between a teacher and his pupil. A gripping tale of two families torn apart by one catastrophic betrayal, illustrating the fine line between guilt and innocence.

*LISA BALLANTYNE'S NEW NOVEL, ONCE UPON A LIE, IS OUT NOW*

Praise for Lisa Ballantyne:

'One of the most readable, emotionally intense novels of the year' Richard and Judy

'Moving, insightful' Guardian

'Thought-provoking, brave and challenging, this book is an unsettling and compulsive read' Rosamund Lupton

'Grips like a vice' Daily Mail

'Sophisticated, suspenseful, unsettling' Lee Child

'A page-turner with real emotional depth' Daily Express

'I couldn't get this book out of my head. It kept me up all night and guessing the whole way through. I loved it' Jenny Colgan

'An outstanding work of fiction' Daily Record

'Dark, intelligent, suspenseful' Saskia Sarginson

'Tense, unsettling' Morning Star