In a dark, dark wood…

In the summer of 1990, Caroline and Joanna are sent to stay with their great-aunt, Dora, to spend their holidays in a sunlit village in the Forest of Dean. The countryside is a welcome change from the trauma they know back home in the city; a chance to make the world a joyful playground again. But the shadowy woods at the edge of the forest hide secrets that will bring their innocence to a distressing end and make this a summer they will never forget.

There was a dark, dark house…

Years later, a shocking act of violence sends Joanna back to Witchwood. In her great-aunt’s lonely and dilapidated cottage, she will attempt to unearth the secrets of that terrifying summer and come to terms with the haunting effects it has left on her life. But in her quest to find answers, who can she trust? And will she be able to survive the impending danger from those trying to bury the truth?

‘If dark psychological thrillers are your thing, Rebecca Griffiths has created a treat for you. A Place to Lie is certainly more than just a thriller. It’s a convincing dip into the darker side of the human psyche, a portrait of a rural community full of secrets, an exploration of sibling relationships and an examination of the reasons that can lie behind harmful actions. It’s taut and pacy, consistently intriguing and has a very satisfying final twist.’ Western Mail

‘The domestic noir genre is increasingly crowded, but Rebecca Griffiths’s A Place to Lie adroitly combines an increasingly tense narrative with stylish writing that keeps her a cut above most of her rivals. Griffiths has a comprehensive grip on the reader’s attention.’ The Guardian

‘Eerie and tense, this is a story of love and hate between friends and siblings, and the unbridgeable barrier of mutual incomprehension between the adult world and that of childhood.’ Morning Star

‘Truly chilling.’ Woman

‘A Place to Lie is a wonderfully intriguing and beautifully crafted book from start to finish.’ My Chestnut Reading Tree