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Chapters (82)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for The House of Whispers
  3. Title Page
  4. Note to Readers
  5. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  13. Seven
  14. Eight
  15. Nine
  16. Ten
  17. Eleven
  18. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  19. Twelve
  20. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  21. Thirteen
  22. Fourteen
  23. Fifteen
  24. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  25. Sixteen
  26. Seventeen
  27. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  28. Eighteen
  29. Nineteen
  30. Twenty
  31. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  32. Twenty-One
  33. Twenty-Two
  34. Twenty-Three
  35. Twenty-Four
  36. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  37. Twenty-Five
  38. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  39. Twenty-Six
  40. Twenty-Seven
  41. Twenty-Eight
  42. Twenty-Nine
  43. Thirty
  44. Thirty-One
  45. Thirty-Two
  46. Thirty-Three
  47. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  48. Thirty-Four
  49. Thirty-Five
  50. Thirty-Six
  51. Thirty-Seven
  52. Thirty-Eight
  53. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  54. Thirty-Nine
  55. Forty
  56. Forty-One
  57. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  58. Forty-Two
  59. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  60. Forty-Three
  61. Forty-Four
  62. Forty-Five
  63. Forty-Six
  64. Forty-Seven
  65. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  66. Forty-Eight
  67. Transcript of interview with Mr Rohan Allerton, husband of Abigail Allerton: 20 December 2019
  68. Forty-Nine
  69. Fifty
  70. Fifty-One
  71. Fifty-Two
  72. Fifty-Three
  73. Fifty-Four
  74. Fifty-Five
  75. Fifty-Six
  76. Fifty-Seven
  77. Fifty-Eight
  78. Fifty-Nine
  79. Sixty
  80. Priory Hospital North London: 20 December 2019
  81. Acknowledgements
  82. About the Publisher

Sunlight beams through the high sash window and onto the coffee table, highlighting dust motes that float in the air. I’m sitting in the armchair again today, the one by the window. Every minute, I glance out towards the driveway, then I turn back to the room and start rocking again. There’s a solace in the movement; it comforts me, like the feel of a cat purring on my lap. Like the feeling of my Alfie on me. But something happened to Alfie – he’s not coming back. The memory’s a shadow I can’t quite grasp.

It’s quiet here today so I hear footsteps in the corridor before Rohan appears at the door. He’s with Dr Singh, my consultant. They stop on the other side of the threshold and continue to talk quietly. Rohan’s been here all morning, talking to the doctor. They’re giving me sideways looks, their eyes flicking to me and back, so I know it’s about me and I imagine Rohan’s asking when I can come home. I put a hand to my chest – it’s still sore, but it’s good, apparently, that I only used a palette knife. The blunt blade couldn’t go deep. Rohan’s arm’s in a sling.

‘Very high success rate…’ I hear Dr Singh say. ‘Residential… therapy… psychodynamic…’

‘She’d have to stay here?’ Rohan asks.

I tune out and my eyes flick once more to the driveway. I rock as I watch the cars, each one a fresh cargo of dread that butterflies and prickles in my belly.

‘Abi?’ Rohan says and I swivel to see both him and the doctor facing me, concern on their faces. ‘What are you doing?’

‘I’m waiting for Grace,’ I say. ‘I know she’s coming back. She said she’d never leave me.’

Rohan and Dr Singh look at each other, and Rohan nods. ‘Okay,’ he says.

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Acknowledgements

This book did not come easily. It was only thanks to the foresight, talent and unending patience of my incredible editor, Kate Mills, that it was able to grow into the story you hold in your hands today. Thank you, Kate, for pushing me, for challenging me and for believing in me.

Thank you to Lisa Milton, Executive Publisher at HQ Stories, for making me feel like such a welcome part of the HQ family and for your ongoing support. Endless thanks to Luigi and Alison Bonomi, whose encouragement, brainstorming sessions and constructive critiques keep me on track, and thanks, too, to the entire team at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, in particular Ahlam Bolooki and Isobel Abulhoul, and to Charles Nahhas of Montegrappa Middle East.