Cover

Praise for The Lady Upstairs

“Halley Sutton’s propulsive, delectable noir is one of the most thrilling debuts I can remember. With a pair of utterly captivating femmes fatales at its dark and twisty heart, The Lady Upstairs is sharp, sly, and crackling with erotic tension. I didn’t just read this one—I devoured it.”

—Elizabeth Little, author of Dear Daughter

“The Lady Upstairs is seductive and as sharp as a knife sliding between your ribs. Feminist noir that should scare a few awful men into better behavior. Loved it.”

—Lori Rader-Day, author of The Lucky One

“Halley Sutton’s The Lady Upstairs is a haunting, unforgettable debut that sizzles with menace and charm. This dark noir is loaded with mesmerizing characterization and a taut, always-moving plot that left me thirsty for more. Packed with well-crafted twists and a hypnotic voice, Sutton evokes the work of authors like Alafair Burke and Megan Abbott while adding her own unique verve and fire. I loved this book.”

—Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Blackout and Miami Midnight

“Sultry, captivating, and electric with tension . . . With sharp, magnetic prose, Sutton dives into the darkness of women’s lives, illuminating how venom and vulnerability are often two sides of the same coin.”

—Megan Collins, author of The Winter Sister

“Halley Sutton’s debut crackles with the unmistakable voice of its heroine, a cynical, wisecracking femme fatale straight out of a Raymond Chandler novel, who becomes enmeshed in a twisty tale of greed, betrayal, and vengeance. As dark as Megan Abbott and as voice-y as Lisa Lutz, this astoundingly self-assured debut ranks its author alongside the best in her genre. The Lady Upstairs is LA noir at its finest.”

—Amy Gentry, author of Good as Gone and Last Woman Standing

“This diamond-blade feminist noir is near-impossible to put down. . . . A stunning new voice in LA noir, Halley Sutton has set the bar high. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.”

—Wendy Heard, author of Hunting Annabelle

“Savvy, seductive, twisted—noir at its best. Shrewd women enact vengeance to fill their empty pocketbooks and hollow souls. Sutton’s timely plot will chill and resonate beyond the page.”

—Vicki Hendricks, author of Miami Purity

“A stunning debut, noir as hell, filled with complex and daunting characters, and just a real good time.”

—Tod Goldberg, author of Gangsterland and Gangster Nation

“Sharp as a stiletto and twice as sexy, The Lady Upstairs is the smart, sultry noir we need right now. Sutton’s feminist femme fatale heroine will seduce and intoxicate you, and you’ll love every second of it.”

—Layne Fargo, author of Temper

“A twisty, perfectly plotted, feminist crime noir that juxtaposes the glittering LA social scene with its gritty underbelly, this thriller sizzles with tension.”

—Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge

Dedication

To my parents,

who didn’t even flinch

when their baby girl handed them this book

Chapter 1