‘Reading this book was like a drug. I could not put it down’★★★★★ ‘Chilling, gripping and stomach-lurchingly twisted’ ★★★★★ A deadly choice in the name of love. Probation officer Cate Austin faces the highest‑profile case of her career: Alice Mariani, a celebrated university lecturer, has been charged with assisting in the death of her lover. But at what point does a private pact become a public crime? Every interview with Alice peels back another layer of secrecy. As media and campaigners swarm the courtroom, Cate is forced into a legal blind spot — and a brutal dilemma. Will a lover's last request become a deadly price to pay? Don't miss this gripping thriller, perfect for fans of Joy Ellis from award-winning, Kindle #1 bestselling author Ruth Dugdall, as discussed on Radio 4’s ‘Woman’s Hour’. Readers love The Sacrificial Man: 'Gripping, original, authentic' Erin Kelly ‘Ruth Dugdall has the ability to get under a character’s skin so thoroughly that they seem real, making them all the more scary’ ★★★★★ 'Another dark and disturbing read in a brilliant series'★★★★★ 'I would strongly recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers with bizarre and unsuspecting twists'★★★★★ 'There has always been something exceptional about the words written by Ruth Dugdall'★★★★★