Alyson Noel - Infamous - the page-turning thriller from New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël

Photo by Nancy Villere

ALYSON NOËLis the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including the Immortals, Riley Bloom, and Soul Seekers series. With millions of copies in print, her books have been translated into thirty-six languages and have made numerous international bestseller lists.

Born and raised in Orange County, California, she’s lived in both Mykonos and Manhattan and is now settled back in Southern California, where she’s working on her next book. You can visit her online at www.alysonnoel.com.

Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.

Unrivaled

Blacklist

Infamous

Infamous

Alyson Noël

Copyright

An imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2018

Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers 2018

HarperCollins Publishers asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Ebook Edition © October 2018 ISBN: 9780008332402

For Howard and Karen

The truth is rarely pure and never simple.

—OSCAR WILDE

Cover

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Booklist

Title Page

Copyright

DEDICATION

EPIGRAPH

ONE: FATHER FIGURE

TWO: NOTORIOUS

THREE: CAN’T REMEMBER TO FORGET YOU

FOUR: SHARP DRESSED MAN

FIVE: UNCERTAIN SMILE

SIX: WAITING ON THE WORLD TO CHANGE

SEVEN: BLUE AIN’T YOUR COLOR

EIGHT: LONG ROAD OUT OF EDEN

NINE: CAKE BY THE OCEAN

TEN: FAKE LOVE

ELEVEN: WORLD SPINS MADLY

TWELVE: GUYS MY AGE

THIRTEEN: SURFACE ENVY

FOURTEEN: FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND

FIFTEEN: THINK A LITTLE LESS

SIXTEEN: SISTER GOLDEN HAIR

SEVENTEEN: ISPY

EIGHTEEN: YOU ARE GOODBYE

NINETEEN: LADY GRINNING SOUL

TWENTY: SLOW DANCING IN A BURNING ROOM

TWENTY-ONE: KILLER QUEEN

TWENTY-TWO: LET’S HURT TONIGHT

TWENTY-THREE: HEY, JEALOUSY

TWENTY-FOUR: MY OH MY

TWENTY-FIVE: CANDLE IN THE WIND

TWENTY-SIX: THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME FOR

TWENTY-SEVEN: SLEEPING WILD

TWENTY-EIGHT: LOVE LIES BLEEDING

TWENTY-NINE: GIRLS ON FILM

THIRTY: CALIFORNIA DREAMING

THIRTY-ONE: I TOOK A PILL IN IBIZA

THIRTY-TWO: ALL MY DEAD DRUNK FRIENDS

THIRTY-THREE: UPTOWN FUNK

THIRTY-FOUR: HEART OF GLASS

THIRTY-FIVE: WHITE ROOM

THIRTY-SIX: WHERE HAVE ALL THE GOOD TIMES GONE

THIRTY-SEVEN: ANY OL’ BARSTOOL

THIRTY-EIGHT: LA WOMAN

THIRTY-NINE: LOST AND FOUND

FORTY: RING OF FIRE

FORTY-ONE: HEARTLESS

FORTY-TWO: CARELESS WHISPER

FORTY-THREE: SLEEP NOW IN THE FIRE

FORTY-FOUR: HEARTBREAKER

FORTY-FIVE: HERE’S WHERE THE STORY ENDS

FORTY-SIX: KIDS IN AMERICA

FORTY-SEVEN: CITY OF STARS

FORTY-EIGHT: LOVE’S PURE LIGHT

FORTY-NINE: GREEN GRASS AND HIGH TIDES

FIFTY: THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD

FIFTY-ONE: THE PRETTIEST STAR

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

About the Publisher

Spotlight magazine exclusive!

We caught up with rising star Heather Rollins to discuss the latest developments in the Madison Brooks case. As you probably know, Heather was a close friend of Madison’s, and she’s also acquainted with the four teens recently arrested for their alleged involvement in Madison’s disappearance. Read on for Heather’s unique, insider perspective of the ongoing scandal!

Spotlight: Heather, we know how busy you are with your new show—congratulations, by the way! We’re honored you managed to carve out some time to speak with us today.

Heather: Thank you, but really, the honor’s all mine. Like the rest of the world, I’m distraught over Madison’s disappearance and I just pray she’s okay. I miss her, and I want her to return home safely.

Spotlight: Certainly the latest news that the body found in Joshua Tree has been ruled out as Madison comes as a relief. But tell us, how are you holding up, and what are your theories? It seems everyone has one these days.

Heather: The news was certainly a relief, to say the least. As for theories, I can’t say I have any. I’m mostly just glad to know Madison is still out there, somewhere, and I pray every day that we’ll see her again—the sooner the better.

Spotlight: I’m sure we’re all rooting for the same outcome. Though we’re also wondering, as someone with connections to everyone involved, what do you think of the recent arrests of Aster Amirpour, Layla Harrison, Tommy Phillips, and Ryan Hawthorne?

Heather: Well, it definitely came as a shock, but I really hate to speculate. It seems like the public has already convicted them in their minds. And while I understand the need for justice, I think it’s wise to take a step back and trust that the LAPD and our legal system will do the right thing.

Spotlight: Yes, but they were caught at the scene of the body, along with Madison’s tracker—what do you make of that?

Heather: It certainly looks bad, doesn’t it? I’m just reluctant to point any fingers until we know the full story. A reputation can be ruined in a second, and it can take a lifetime to restore it, if ever.

Spotlight: The body was found outside a cabin in Joshua Tree owned by Paul Banks. The same Paul Banks who’s been linked to Madison, and whose office building recently burned down in what was since ruled to be arson. Since the body has been established as a middle-aged male, do you think it was him?

Heather: I really think that’s up to the coroner’s office to determine. Like you, I’m just glued to my phone, waiting for updates.

Spotlight: Did you know Paul Banks, or ever see him with Madison?