6 Secrets of The Spotlight, My New Mystery-Thriller

Mark your calendars, because my new novel, The Spotlight, is set to land in a whirl of confetti in just over six months. Here’s everything you need to know about it:

1. It’s about a popstar who bears a resemblance to Taylor Swift

Love her or loathe her, Taylor Swift is a fascinating figure. Rich as hell, more famous than the Royal Family; her every move is followed by millions online. Except isn’t that a type of hell? To be scrutinised so closely?

I wanted to prod beneath the surface perfection of a pop princess, so I invented the character of Silver. She’s a platinum-selling singer who seems to have it all, except she’s walled into a prison of celebrity.

2. It’s about the corrosive, addictive nature of fame

I came across a great quote by John Updike in writing The Spotlight:

“Celebrity is a mask that eats into the face.”

We all know that fame is a double-edged sword – would you really want to be mobbed everywhere you go? – yet still almost 50% of people say they’d like to be famous.

The Spotlight is about that contradiction, as musician Kirby embarks on a last ditch effort at success, fame and fortune, by taking a job on tour with Silver.

3. Everyone thinks the main character is a murderer

The main trouble for Kirby, apart from the whole face-eating-fame thing, is that everyone thinks she’s a murderer.

All because her bandmate, Hailey, drowned in mysterious circumstances. And she was at the scene of the crime. And she had a motive to kill her.

(Whoops. I hate it when that happens!)

Better late than never, Kirby decides it’s time to clear her name – and find out who really killed Hailey.

4. Strap in, because we’re going on a round-the-world arena tour

I love to write about the dark side of glamorous settings. My previous thriller, The Getaway, took place on a private island on the Caribbean. This time, we’re not just in one luxurious location – we’re on tour with Silver, jetting from place to place (in a private jet, obviously).

5. A stalker-killer is on the loose

As Kirby travels across the world, playing to screaming fans every night, she should be having the time of her life. But she becomes increasingly disturbed by the stalker who has Silver in his sights. It’s all too reminiscent of what happened to Hailey.

Can Kirby find the killer before it’s too late? You’ll have to read The Spotlight to find out!

6. It’s published on 18 June 2026

Add it to your wishlist/TBR, because The Spotlight is out in paperback, ebook and audiobook worldwide on 18 June: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Goodreads

The German translation, also called The Spotlight, is out a month earlier on 16 May: Amazon.de