“Nobody understands the dirty little secrets of the human heart better than Stella Duffy. I defy anyone to read this without squirming.”—Val McDermid
“Duffy has proved herself to be one of the very best.”—The Times (London)
“A promising writer has matured into a classic”—Guardian
The taunts are merciless, seemingly endless. Then, one day, the taunts end catastrophically.
New mother Saz Martin has quit the private investigator business for a more peaceful existence a lifetime away from that playground. But when her high school friend Will Gallagher—the now famous TV presenter—comes calling, there’s no way she can hide from her own dark memories.
This story of how the sins of our past always come back to haunt us asks whether it is still possible to believe in our heroes once their flaws are laid bare. In Mouths of Babes, Stella Duffy deftly shows that it is possible for a book to be a gripping page-tuer while also addressing the moral dilemmas of our times.
Stella Duffy has published ten novels, including State of Happiness, which was longlisted for the 2004 Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. Her short story “Martha Grace” won the 2002 CWA Short Story Award. Her work has been published in the United States, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Japan, and Russia. Duffy was bo in London, grew up in Tokoroa, New Zealand, and has lived back in London since 1986.
Stella was bo in London, grew up in Tokoroa, New Zealand, and has lived back in London since 1986.–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Sally Martin was part of the supercool gang at school. The gang played some mischievous—and sometimes cruel—pranks on their classmates, one of which resulted in a terrible tragedy, which the gang members tried to forget as soon as they left school. Now an adult, Sally has cut all ties with her former gang friends, changed her name to Saz, come out as a lesbian, married her lover, found a job as a part-time private investigator, and become a mother. But the past can never be completely forgotten. One day, Saz receives a panicked call from one of the gang members telling her that a blackmailer knows their dirty secrets and wants “justice.” The gang members meet to decide what to do, but the decision they make results in more tragedy. This latest entry in the Saz Martin series is all dark secrets and lies, subtle psychological twists, mounting suspense, and a dreadful feeling of inevitable catastrophe. Readers will be as intrigued as they are repulsed by the weaknesses, vanity, and misplaced loyalties of the characters in this taut, riveting, finely paced read. –Emily Melton–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
