The Second Woman by Louise Mey

“Astonishingly immersive… and beautifully wrought.” —Lisa Harding, author of Bright Burning Things, a READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK

“A brilliant portrayal of female strength… In a genre that thrives on the mistreatment of women, Mey shows us the other side.” —Anna Bailey
 
The addictive French noir about coercive control and survival that turns on a knife edge—the perfect next read for fans of The Perfect Nanny

Missing persons don’t always stay that way…
 
Sandrine is unhappy in her body, her house, and her life.

But none of that matters when she meets her man. He makes room for her, a place in his home, with his son.
 
He cares about where she is, and who she is speaking to. He loves her, intensely.

Everything would be perfect, if only the first woman—the one from before—would just stay away…
 
TV RIGHTS SOLD FOR ADAPTATION
SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAISON DE LA PRESSE PRIZE
SHORTLISTED FOR THE LANDERNEAU CRIME FICTION PRIZE
 
From a high-profile French feminist comes a noir thriller that is both a suspenseful page-turner and fiercely empathetic with victims of domestic control—not to be missed!

Story Locale: France

LOUISE MEY is a Paris-based author of contemporary noir novels dealing with themes of domestic and sexual violence, and harassment, often with a feminist slant. The Second Woman is her fourth novel, and the first to be translated into English.
 
LOUISE ROGERS LALAURIE is a writer and translator from French, including Frédéric Dard’s The King of Fools and The Inspector of Strange and Unexplained Deaths by Olivier Barde-Cabuçon, both published by Pushkin Vertigo. Her work has been shortlisted for the Best Translated Book Award, the Jan Michalski Prize for Literature and the Crime Writers Association International Dagger.

Author Residence: Paris, France

Author Hometown: Paris, France