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Chapters (59)
  1. Bad Friends
  2. Copyright
  3. Dedication
  4. Epigraph
  5. AFTER: DECEMBER
  6. BEFORE: JUNE
  7. Chapter One
  8. Chapter Two
  9. Chapter Three
  10. Chapter Four
  11. Chapter Five
  12. Chapter Six
  13. Chapter Seven
  14. Chapter Eight
  15. Chapter Nine
  16. Chapter Ten
  17. Chapter Eleven
  18. Chapter Twelve
  19. Chapter Thirteen
  20. Chapter Fourteen
  21. Chapter Fifteen
  22. Chapter Sixteen
  23. Chapter Seventeen
  24. Chapter Eighteen
  25. Chapter Nineteen
  26. Chapter Twenty
  27. Chapter Twenty-One
  28. Chapter Twenty-Two
  29. Chapter Twenty-Three
  30. Chapter Twenty-Four
  31. Chapter Twenty-Five
  32. Chapter Twenty-Six
  33. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  34. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  35. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Chapter Thirty-Four
  41. Chapter Thirty-Five
  42. Chapter Thirty-Six
  43. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  44. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  45. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  46. Chapter Forty
  47. Chapter Forty-One
  48. Chapter Forty-Two
  49. Chapter Forty-Three
  50. Chapter Forty-Four
  51. Chapter Forty-Five
  52. Chapter Forty-Six
  53. Chapter Forty-Seven
  54. Chapter Forty-Eight
  55. A CONVERSATION WITH CLAIRE SEEBER
  56. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  57. About the Author
  58. By the same author:
  59. About the Publisher

A: I’m a voracious reader and love all sorts of books from Miss Marple to psychological thrillers such as Nicci French’s through to classic love stories like Wuthering Heights or Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea – the solution to Charlotte Bronte’s mysterious and mad Mrs Rochester in Jane Eyre. As a teenager I vividly remember staying up all night reading Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, driven to discover the secret of the missing character Rebecca and what Maxim de Winter really felt for her. I also like writers who have something to say about society without making it too obvious – like Jane Austen or Justin Cartwright.

Q: What is your daily writing routine?

A: With two small kids, I write when I can – it’s as simple as that! A free hour and I’ll be scribbling away in a café or at my computer if the house is empty …

Q: What are you working on next?

A: My third book! It features a heroine called Rose whose life might appear perfect but underneath it all, perhaps things are rather different. I’m fascinated by things not being what they seem …

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I couldn’t have finished Bad Friends without the love and support of some truly good friends and family. I’m lucky to have them – unlike poor Maggie.

Special thanks to lovely Bethy for reading the first draft so keenly, especially Chapter 37; and to the inimitable Flic Everett who made me strong coffee, always listened, and guessed first time around. Thanks also to the rest of the Goldsmiths 4 – Guy, Phyllice and Judy (I promise I’ll get that extra chair soon).

Sincere thanks to the multi-skilled Neil White for finding the time (I don’t know how!) to fill me in on police procedure; to Roberto Savoia for the Italian; to Louisa Aldridge for her superior musical knowledge, and to my great friend Becca Toms for being such a jet-setter that she knows where the stars shine and the flowers fall. Thanks to Auntie Sue for the gardening tips. (I still don’t like chrysanthemums though.)

A massive thank you to my fantastic agent Teresa Chris who always spurs me on. To everyone at Avon, in particular my most marvellous editor, Maxine Hitchcock, and Keshini Naidoo – both of whom I’m fortunate enough, I hope, to count as friends as well as colleagues. (Kesh, I will always remember Lewisham!) Many thanks to Sara Foster and Linda Joyce for their eagle-eyed talents, and thanks also to everyone at Midas, particularly Jess Gulliver. Thank you to my father for my website. And finally to Liz Claridge, I really appreciate you being there.

Lastly, to the many friends I’ve made over the years in television – don’t be cross. You’re all great really.

About the Author