The Artful Anna Harris - by Tracy Maton (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

If the talented Mr. Ripley were a young woman today, she might be Anna Harris: charming, changeable, and perhaps not at all what she seems to be.

"You are quite the chameleon, aren't you? You could wear anything, do anything, and yet you choose plain, plain, plain. Or is it all a front for a secret life?"

Anna Harris grew up in a rough part of London, and learned young that she could become whoever she needs to be, moulding herself to get what she needs and wants. Somehow that has led her to a quaint, sleepy English village, swallowed into the lives of her boyfriend and his close and loving family. She's not unhappy, but there are quiet pressures and illicit temptations even in this storybook life.

When the vivacious Sofia Carstairs moves to the village, Anna is reminded of the freedom she once had. She used to be carefree and rebellious. But is she willing to throw away her future for some fun? Anna's not a bad person, she doesn't want to hurt anyone. But perhaps leading two lives is the path to fulfillment. What would happen if she just tried it out...

Full of vivid characters, sharp wit, and shocking twists, The Artful Anna Harris is a brilliantly suspenseful and page-turning debut.

Review Quotes

"With brilliantly complex characters and a plot that unfolds with unnerving inevitability, Anna's story is chilling and deeply engaging by turns. I loved it."
--Philippa East, bestselling author of Little White Lies

"Rarely has a book delivered so spectacularly on the promise of an unlikeable lead character but Anna Harris is every bit as artful and awful as this reader could wish. Highsmith herself would raise a glass"
--Sarah Hilary, author of Fragile

"Pacy, thrilling and fun... An excellent debut."
--J.M. Hewitt, author of The Life She Wants

"Beautifully written and suspenseful with sinister Highsmith vibes, this book will get under your skin."
--Caroline Hulse, author of The Adults

"Dark, clever and utterly compulsive. Anna Harris is an intriguing character with a mask for every occasion: witty, loving, vulnerable, and--when the need arises--ruthless. Full of sly humour and exquisite tension."
--Guy Morpuss, author of A Trial in Three Acts

About the Author

TRACY MATON has had a varied career as a copywriter, a marketer, a quality improvement ambassador in the UK's National Health Service, and a children's entertainer. When she's not writing, she can be found swimming in her local lake. Tracy was born in Montreal and now lives in Bristol, England, with her husband and three occasionally present children. The Artful Anna Harris is her debut novel.