They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…

When her fifteen-year-old son Milo goes off the rails, Alex Harding is terrified she’s passed on her abusive father’s ‘bad’ genes. When she then makes the shocking discovery that her estranged son, Samuel, who she gave up for adoption as a baby, has been accused of murder, she becomes even more convinced nature not nurture is the cause.

The only way Alex sees to help Milo, is to get to know Samuel and understand the crime that he has been accused of. But it isn’t long before Alex starts to wonder if she has made the biggest mistake of her life by inviting this man she barely knows into her family.

As Alex becomes increasingly obsessed with Samuel, it gets harder to know who she can trust and who is lying to her. But if she can’t uncover the truth, she risks losing everything and everyone she loves…

You won’t be able to put down this totally gripping new psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas and Adele Parks.

Praise for C.L.Swatman:

‘Breathlessly pacy. The darkest whodunnit’ S.E. Lynes

‘Brilliantly addictive read. I loved it' Valerie Keogh

'Fast paced and deliciously twisty' Keri Beevis

'A tense thriller looking at family dynamics, female friendship and nature versus nurture with plenty of surprises along the way. Loved it.' Catherine Cooper

'A dark, clever and twisty page turner. I devoured it!' Claire Douglas