Apple of my eye - Patrick Redmond

Ronnie Sidney is a perfect child. The illegitimate son of a wartime romance, he gives his mother the unconditional love she so craves. In his mother's eyes Ronnie is faultless: a ray of sunshine in her grey life. But as cracks begin to creep into Ronnie's facade of youthful charm, a very different character starts to emerge.

For Susan Ramsey, life is easy. Cherished by her parents, she knows nothing of hardship or misery. Until a sudden tragedy thrusts her into a dark and disturbing world.

When Susan and Ronnie meet, the attraction is instant. Each recognises in the other a long-awaited soul mate. Finally, Ronnie feels able to remove his mask of perfection - with consequences more dreadful than either could possibly have foreseen . . .

With its compelling exploration of psychological power games and emotional violence, Apple of My Eye is the mesmerising third novel from the bestselling author of The Wishing Game and The Puppet Show.

Patrick Redmond was born in Essex in 1966. After attending school in Essex and the Channel Islands he completed a Law degree at Leicester University and then a Masters at University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He spent ten years working in the City of London specialising in Commercial and EU law, before leaving to become a full time writer.

His first novel, The Wishing Game, hit the bestseller lists in the UK, Germany and Italy. He has published three novels since, which together have been translated into fifteen languages. His latest novel, The Replacement, is due out later this year. Patrick now lives in West London.

A dark and bloody tale which keeps the tension going right until the last page . . . A superb, intelligent read
Joanne Harris

A compelling novel that draws you deep into the world of children at the mercy of the dangerous adults. Disturbing and gripping
Natasha Cooper

An intense, gripping read
Heat

His style is strictly no frills - simple, sparse and straightforward . . . but he does have a way of making you gag to know what happens next
Daily Mirror

His principal gift is an effortless grasp of narrative texture, and multiple levels of sympathetic insight into his brilliantly drawn characters
Crime Time