Sending big thanks, as always, to my lovely friends Karen Clarke, Joanne Duncan and Diane Jeffrey for their endless support and feedback. Writing can be a lonely business at times, so to have such supportive writer friends is wonderful.

I’ve been so lucky to have such support on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram from so many friends, readers, and writers – huge thanks to every single one of them. I couldn’t have got this far without them, and wish I had space to name everyone, but I hope you know who you are.

I’m so grateful to all my lovely readers, and to the blogging community for all their support and brilliant reviews – it means so much. Thank you.

I would like to thank too Sally Maskell and Kate Nussey, who provided the names for Julia Collis and Detective Inspector Kate Beynon in I Lie in Wait, after winning a competition I ran on my Facebook page. Sally’s choice was in memory of her sister, Jane Collis. Thank you to everyone who took part in the competition, and donated to my Her Last Lie fundraising page.

Thank you so much to my family and friends for listening to me go on about writing, and for being there for me. Again, you know who you are. I love you all.

Special thanks to my daughter-in-law, Lucy, who once again bravely read an early draft of my novel, and to my sons Liam, Daniel and Luke who tirelessly support me, and to Janni and Amy for cheering me on. Thanks to my mum who still tells everyone she meets that her daughter is a writer, and to Cheryl and my dad who my acknowledgements would never be complete without.

And last but never least a special thank you to Kev who has supported me since I started on my crazy writing journey. I’m dedicating this book to you.

Keep reading for an excerpt from Her Last Lie …

Prologue

Saturday, 23 July

NSW Newsroom Online

Serial killer Carl Jeffery convicted of triple hostel killings, granted appeal.

Six years ago, the so-called Hostel Killer, Carl Jeffery, now thirty-one, was found guilty of the murders of Sophie Stuart, nineteen, Bronwyn Bray, eighteen, and Clare Simpson, twenty-six. He got three life sentences.

Now his younger sister, Darleen Jeffery, hopes to get him acquitted.

Mr Jeffery was accused of targeting women travelling alone in Australia. He would gain their trust, and when the women ended their relationship with Jeffery, he would tap on their window in the dead of night, wearing a green beanie hat and scarf to disguise his appearance, striking fear. He later killed them.

The main prosecuting evidence came from his intended fourth victim, Isla Johnson from the UK, who survived his attack and identified him as her assailant. She suffered physical and psychological injuries. Following Mr Jeffery’s trial, she returned to England where she now lives with boyfriend Jack Green.