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THE NIGHTSPINNERS

Macmillan hb, £16.99

Reviewed by Russell James


Two years ago Susannah's twin sister Marina was brutally murdered, and her killer has not been found. Like many twins, Susannah and Marina had an almost telepathic relationship - but close as they were as children, as adults they drifted apart. Susannah has tried to get on with her career, and has established herself in town as a designer. There isn't a man in her life, but she has a dog. All seems well until the nuisance phone calls begin. Then she gets anonymous gifts of flowers. Then someone vandalises her car. These things are irritations, nothing more - until, one day, Susannah learns that before her death, Marina too was plagued with nuisance phone calls and gifts of flowers. Her car was vandalised in the same way, just two weeks before she died. But when Susannah tells the police, they don't seem interested…

This is an extraordinarily atmospheric first novel, whether describing the rural Georgia upbringing, the shared house where Susannah lives, or the growing menace from the unknown stalker. There are plenty of suspects and, to be honest, I thought the killer rather obvious - till I got to the end and found I was wrong.