From multi-million copy and SUNDAY TIMES bestselling author Ruth Rendell, this is a darkly humorous and piercing observation of human behaviour. Fans of PD James, Ann Cleeves and Donna Leon will love this compelling fable of our lives and our crimes...

'Rendell's greatest trick is making an unforeseen outcome feel predestined' -- Financial Times

'Throroughly gripping . . . As always with Rendell, it's the exquisite human and social minutiae that count' -- The Times

'Rendell does it again!' -- ***** Reader review

'Utterly gripping' -- ***** Reader review

'Unputdownable' -- ***** Reader review

'Absorbing' -- ***** Reader review

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When Stuart Font decides to throw a house-warming party in his new flat, he invites all the people in his building and, after some deliberation, even includes the unpleasant caretaker and his wife.

Although there are some genuine friends on the list, they are a disparate group of people and he definitely does not want to include his girlfriend, Claudia, as that might involve asking her husband.

The party will be one everyone remembers. But not for the right reasons.

Living opposite, in reclusive isolation, is a beautiful young Asian woman, christened Tigerlily by Stuart. As though from some strange urban fairytale, she emerges to exert a terrible spell on Stuart and his guests...