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Summary

‘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'★★★★★ 
This latest fiction story is a top novel of obsession, ethics, and the dangerous space between mercy and murder. Pre-order the up-coming sequel for a final twist that makes these stories impossible to forget. 
For fans of David Mccloskey (Damascus Station), Elly Griffiths (The Last Remains), Mark Edwards (The Wasp Trap), Freida Mcfadden (The Surrogate Mother), and Gayle Curtis (Memory Scents). 
HarperCollins 2026

Duration: about 9 hours (09:19:36)
Publishing date: 2026-05-21; Unabridged; Copyright Year: — Copyright Statment: —

• Contemporary Fiction
• Crime & Thriller