The Black Look — Michael Butterworth

One of the world's most beautiful women is tormented by the ugly secrets in her shattered mind in this really smooth chiller (The Sunday Telegraph).Candida Jeans has a face that has graced the covers of England's top fashion magazines, but she hides herself away from the whirlwind of her glamourous world. Work is work, though, so she can't refuse a Paris photo shoot. It's when she goes through customs that the real nightmare begins, and a man's severed hand is found in her hat-box. Blindsided by the horror, Candida shrinks in upon herself, falling prey to the insecurities that have plagued her since she was a child. With the Paris police following her every move, she struggles to keep her composure while dealing with the demands of the fashion editor and photographer who have accompanied her. The labyrinth of the city's streets—and her own memories—become a maze she can't escape, while she tries to piece together a past that could either destroy her or set her free . . .Brisk little tour de force. —The ObserverGrips as it goes. —The Northern Echo A very competently plotted yarn with nightmare moments for its central character—and a whodunit I failed to solve. —Morning StarThe effects and surprises are well handled for maximum effect. —Cambridge Evening NewsThe mystery is neatly sustained. —Nottingham Guardian Journal