Trying to ignore her memories of sitting in hospital waiting for news about her father-in-law, she made sure that she left a note for Terry and the kids, explaining where she’d gone and what had happened, before taking herself outside to sit on the wall and wait for Marion.

As the sun began its slow descent from the deep blue sky, Maggie sat contemplating all the bad things that had happened since the last book club meeting, and she couldn’t help wondering to herself if everyone who had attended was now somehow cursed. How many more tragedies could they withstand? She wasn’t sure of the answer, but one thing was certain: Johnny had to survive. The alternative was unthinkable.

As Amy sat in the back of the car, staring out at the fields that were rushing by, she had a similar thought to Maggie. It was almost unbelievable how many things had happened during that week. She couldn’t believe she’d sent Johnny away. The accident was her fault. If he’d been at home … that thought alone made her feel ill. How could she have been so stubborn? With what had happened to Toni and Janet, why hadn’t she found it within her to forgive him earlier? She cursed herself and promised, from that moment, she would never take her life or her husband for granted again.

When they passed the sign for Loughborough, Amy knew they weren’t too far from Nottingham and she clamped her clammy hands together in anticipation. She would make it up to Johnny. He would get better, they would have their baby, and they would be happy again. The alternative was too awful to consider.

Willing the car to go faster, Amy could feel Elly watching her in the rear-view mirror. The detective was most likely younger than Amy, and she found herself wondering if she had a family or a husband.

‘Not too long now,’ Elly said, as if reading her mind. ‘I appreciate this is a difficult time for you, but can I ask again why you didn’t report the threat you received?’

Amy had forgotten all about the note. ‘I had other things on my mind.’

Elly nodded without believing her. ‘I’m sorry, but if it was me, and two women I knew had been murdered, I’d want to tell the police if something like that came through my door.’

‘I’m sure you would, but I didn’t.’ Amy stared coldly at Elly, who turned her attention back to the road ahead and went quiet, knowing it wasn’t the best time to question Amy, but struggling to contain her feeling that there was something more to the situation.

‘Can we change the subject please? My husband is lying in hospital. Some stupid note is not my top priority right now.’