Amanda Robson [Robson - Envy

Published by Avon an imprint of

HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street,

London, SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollinsPublishers 2019

Copyright Amanda Robson 2019

Cover design Claire Ward 2019

Amanda Robson asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authors imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Source ISBN: 9780008291877

Ebook Edition April 2019 ISBN: 9780008328740

Version: 2019-03-13

I absolutely loved it and raced through it. Thrilling, unputdownable, a fabulous rollercoaster of a read I was obsessed by this book.

B.A. Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and Bring Me Back

Obsession is a welcome addition to the domestic noir bookshelf. Robson explores marriage, jealousy and lust with brutal clarity, making for a taut thriller full of page-turning suspense.

Emma Flint, author of Little Deaths

What a page turner! Desperately flawed characters. Bad behaviour. Drugs. Sex. Murder. Its all in there, on every page, pulling you to the next chapter until you find out where it will all end. I was compelled not only to see what every one of them would do, but also how they would describe their actions they are brutally honest and stripped bare. This is one highly addictive novel!

Wendy Walker, author of All Is Not Forgotten

A compelling page-turner on the dark underbelly of marriage, friendship & lust. (If youre considering an affair, you might want a rethink.)

Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle

Very pacy and twisted a seemingly harmless conversation between husband and wife spins out into a twisted web of lies and deceit with devastating consequences.

Colette McBeth, author of The Life I Left Behind

Amanda Robson has some devastating turns of phrase up her sleeve and she expertly injects menace into the domestic. It was clear from the very first chapter that this was going to be a dark and disturbing journey.

Holly Seddon, author of Try Not To Breathe

A compelling psychosexual thriller, with some very dark undertones. Thoroughly intriguing. Amanda Robson is a new name to look out for in dark and disturbing fiction. High quality domestic noir.

Paul Finch, Sunday Times bestselling author of Strangers

Compelling and thoroughly addictive

Katerina Diamond, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Teacher

A real page-turner deliciously dark, toxic and compelling.

Sam Carrington, author of Saving Sophie

I absolutely tore through Obsession compulsive reading with characters you will love to hate and an ending that will make your jaw drop.

Jenny Blackhurst, bestselling author of Before I Let You In and The Foster Child

Mind games, madness and nookie in a tale that will give you pause for thought. 4 stars.

Sunday Sport

A dark tale of affairs gone wrong.

The Sun

One of the sexiest, most compelling debuts Ive come across this year, it cries out to become a TV drama. But I recommend you read it first.

Daily Mail

Gripping, tragic, and sometimes insane, Guilt is an intense exploration of love, sibling relationships, obsession, drug abuse, secrets, and rape.

Seattle Book Review

Fast moving. Compulsive reading.

Jane Corry, author of The Dead Ex

An addictive, compelling read, full of tension.

Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend

Absolutely powered through Guilt. Totally addictive and unputdownable.

Roz Watkins, author of The Devils Dice

I read Guilt over one weekend, completely enthralled. This twisty and complex tale of twin sisters and the dangerous, damaged man who comes between them kept me guessing.

Emma Curtis, author of When I Find You

Robsons writing is sharp and emotive; the plot so tense and engaging. A fantastic read.

Elisabeth Carpenter, author of 99 Red Balloons

Packed with shocking twists, Guilt is a gritty, page-turning read that is not to be missed.

Petrina Banfield, author of Letters from Alice

To my family.

Contents

I watch you every day, walking past my flat on the way to the school drop-off, holding your older daughters hand, pushing the younger one along in the buggy. Sometimes strolling and chatting. Sometimes rushing. Usually wearing your gym kit. Judging by your body shape, your commitment to exercise is worth it. I wish I had a figure like yours.

Your older daughter has gappy teeth and straggly hair. Nowhere near as pretty as you. Your husband must have diluted the gene pool. The younger one, the toddler, is always asleep in the buggy. She looks to have stronger hair, and a chubbier face. I would have loved to have children, but Ive never been in the right relationship.

I envy you, and have from the first moment I saw you scurry past. A moment I recall so well. I was bored. I had nothing to do but look out of my front window, and watch the world go by. Three p.m. Parents rushing to the primary school at pickup time. Parents, nannies, and then you. The woman I would look like if I could, moving past me. The image of my mother from my only remaining photograph. So similar you made me hold my breath.

A few days ago, when you dropped your gym card, I finally found out that your name is Faye Baker. You didnt notice it fall from the back pocket of your jeans as you tightened your laces, did you? As you turned in to the school gates I left my flat, and crossed the road to pick it up. Later that day I handed it in to the school reception. Were you grateful, Faye?

We move towards the school gates through air intertwined with drizzle. The drizzle tightens and turns to icy drops of rain, which spit into my face and make me wince a little. I squeeze my elder daughter Tamsins hand more tightly.

Lets hurry up, otherwise well be drenched, I tell her.

Together, we push the buggy and run laughing into the school playground. Breathless now, Tamsin and I hug and part. My five-year-old disappears into the classroom. Into its light and warmth. Its quirky smell of woodchip and Play-Doh.