Liz Nugent - Lying in Wait

For specialist help, many thanks to: Dr Marie Cassidy, state pathologist, for advice on a decomposing corpse(!); Anne O’Neill, pharmacist, for medicinal advice; my sister Dr Mary Nugent, educational psychologist, and my brothers Peter Nugent and Michael Nugent, solicitors, for information on dyslexia and legal matters respectively; Eileen Conway, PhD, who wrote the book (thesis) on adoption; Yvonne Woods, communications officer at the Free Legal Aid Centre; Richard Walsh, consultant neurologist; Peter Daly, FCA, accountant, and Joe McGloin at the Department of Social Protection; and finally Barry McGovern and Donna Dent for bringing Oliver and Moya to life.

For their expertise in other areas: Gillian Comyn, Benjamin Dreyer, Rachel O’Flanagan, Isibéal O’Connell, Declan Paul Reynolds, Finian Reilly and Donald Clarke.

For their professional encouragement: Sam Eades, Rhian Davies, Rick O’Shea, Maureen Kennelly, Sophie Hannah, Marian Keyes, Sinead Gleeson, Sinead Desmond, Sue Leonard, Martina Devlin, Claire Hennessy, Aifric McGlinchey, Victoria Kennefick, Bert Wright, David Torrans, Frank McGuinness, Ryan Tubridy, Sarah Webb, Vanessa O’Loughlin, Declan Burke, Kilkenny Arts Festival, Roundstone Culture Night, Belfast Book Festival, Mountains to Sea Festival, Airfield Writers Group, Dromineer Literary Festival, Sunday Miscellany, Skibbereen Arts Festival, Dalkey Book Festival, Hay Festival Kells, International Literature Festival of Dublin.

For having to listen to all this endless guff about me: Mum, Dad, Peter, Grainne, Michael, Lucy, Paddy, Monica, Mary, Matt, James, Fiona, Jennifer, Gary, Elaine, Colm, Joanne, Alan, Davy, Jennifer, Julie, Patrick, Julie and John.

Also, big love to my ever expanding coven, which includes but is not limited to: Brid, Maria, Rachel, Olivia, Grainne, Mike, Susie, Al, Aingeala, Frank, Philip, Margaret, Anne O’, Anne M, Beta, Katherine, Susan, Nuala, Deirdre, Claudia, Clelia, Vanessa, Sinead M, Sinead C, Jane, Karen, Paul, Donna, Marian, Tara, Louise, Kate, Martina, Hilary, Lise-Ann, Jen, Angie, Alexia, Gillian, Megan, Fiona, Paraic, Donal, Tania and Grace.

For their warmth and welcome, thanks to the fantastic community of readers, writers, librarians, booksellers and bloggers who know that there will always, always be room for more stories.

Last, but by no means least, to the writers of the future: Sophie Nugent, Robert Nugent and Mia Creamer.

Before becoming a full-time writer Liz Nugent worked in Irish film, theatre and television. In 2014 her first novel, Unravelling Oliver , was a Number One bestseller and won the Crime Fiction Prize in the 2014 Irish Book Awards. Her second novel, Lying in Wait , went straight to Number One in the Irish bestseller charts, remained there for nearly two months and won her a second IBA. She lives in Dublin with her husband.

‘A startlingly good debut… there’s a twist near the end that will leave the reader gasping’ Irish Examiner

‘The best opening line you’ll read all year! And you’ll keep reading’ Sinead Crowley, RTÉ Arts Correspondent

‘Incredible… don’t expect too much sleep until you finish this one!’ 5 stars, Closer

‘Has a hell of an opening line – “I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.” It’s an unexpected, arresting and compelling way to open a book and Nugent’s debut novel manages to be similarly captivating all the way through’ Sunday Business Post

‘A magnificent debut, compulsively readable… a stunning, shocking and superb novel’ Frank McGuinness, playwright

‘Fantastic… a brilliant psychological story full of suspense and devastation’ Crimebookclub.co.uk

‘We read this in one sitting… satisfyingly unnerving’ Woman’s Way

‘Reminiscent of The Book of Evidence ’ RTÉ Guide

‘One of those quiet books that tap away at your emotions until they crack… will appeal to fans of Sophie Hannah and Barbara Vine… an intensely gripping psychological tale that leaves you questioning whether you really know the people closest to you’ Serendiptyreviews.co.uk

‘Just read a book in one sitting. Last time I managed that was twenty years ago… the book was Unravelling Oliver ’ Declan Burke, crime author

‘Her writing is stylish, the characters are vivid and the line of the story all too real and plausible. Can’t recommend it highly enough’ Rick O’Shea, RTÉ

‘An absolute cracker’ Stellar

‘Liz Nugent’s dazzling debut novel, Unravelling Oliver , is, as they say – and they’re saying it quite a lot – “unputdownable” and “a page-turner”… Like a callous Tom Ripley, Oliver is a conman… Without spoiling the plot and Oliver’s twist (or twists, because after the main one there’s a further final twist in the epilogue), let’s just say that Unravelling Oliver is all about telling tales’ Mel Healy, crime author

‘I highly recommend Unravelling Oliver if you are looking for an intriguing tale that is dark and twisted… you will end up sitting up into the wee hours just to finish it (like myself)’ Totally Bookalicious

‘A fascinating and hugely enjoyable read. 9/10’ Novelicious.com

‘ Unravelling Oliver recently won the Irish Crime Novel of the year award. It could have easily won the Literary Novel award given its prose and style’ The View from the Blue House

‘Deliciously disburbing… a truly incredible read that will stay with me for a long, long time’ Lucy Literati

‘I just couldn’t bring myself to keep this down even for a nanosecond… one of the most shockingly stunning books I have ever read. Liz’s writing is so beautiful that for a moment I thought it was all happening in front of my eyes. A great book in every sense!’ Booksminority.com

‘Just finished Unravelling Oliver and will be re-reading straight away. A brilliantly written, extraordinary story!’ Arthur Riordan, playwright

‘I will be thinking about this book for a long time… Liz Nugent’s writing is beautiful and captivating’ Dot Scribbles

‘One of the most beguiling and intriguing debut novels I have read in a long time’ Lisa Reads Books

‘An eye-opening read full of intrigue’ Me, My Books and I

‘A thought-provoking psychological study of human nature… loved it’ My Reading Corner

‘Full of psychological suspense, Unravelling Oliver is a fascinating novel that reveals layers upon layers of secrets and lies that unravel as the story progresses and keeps you engaged throughout’ Bookshelf Butterfly

‘Gripping… I didn’t want to miss a single explanation, confession or regret as the story moved on. Interesting, enthralling and certainly not a book to be missed’ Bestchicklit.com

‘Fantastic… I loved how the final chapter made me rethink everything. The ending complicates matters, forcing you to think about the nature of violence and whether somebody can truly be considered a monster. The plot contains more twists than a slinky, and the writing is fast-paced and carries you along gleefully, if “gleeful” is a word you can use in association with this book. You should read it. Preferably in one day’ 50ayear.com

‘Incredibly gripping and engrossing. This is a novel you will not be able to put down!’ Laura’s Little Book Blog

‘A kind of an Irish Mr Ripley. Gripping, thought-provoking’ Darragh McManus, Irish Independent

‘One of the more fascinating and well-plotted books I’ve read this year so far. I got completely caught up in the story and had to keep on reading’ More Than a Reading Journal