The Close-up

Sometimes dreams come true - but so do nightmares... An electrifying, dark and twisty new thriller from the bestselling author of The Sunday Girl, The Strangers We Know and The Next Girl.

"Drysdale shows once again that she is the undisputed queen of the sexy-cool thriller," says Hayley Scrivenor.

Things have not been going well for Zoe Ann Weiss. Once a young novelist full of promise, now she has a failed debut under her belt, a mountain of debt, a dead-end job, and an agent who's about to drop her if she doesn't write something new and brilliant soon.

Worst of all, she's blocked. Can't-write-a-word blocked. But all that changes one night when she runs into her old flame, Zach Hamilton. It's like no time has passed at all. They start casually dating, and Zach makes her feel like anything is possible. Like the stars have finally realigned themselves in her favour.

Best of all, her writer's block has disappeared.

The only issue is Zach isn't just some hot guy with a dream anymore. Now he's a movie star with billboards and PR people and fans and paparazzi... and even though they're dating in secret, Zoe soon finds herself splashed all over the press. Now everyone seems to know her name.

But the problem with everyone knowing your name is that everyone knows your name... including the stalker who's obsessed with Zach. The stalker who's re-enacting violent, creepy plot twists from Zoe's first novel, exactly how she wrote them - except now, she's the victim.

PRAISE

The Close-Up tells the story of a novelist with what may turn out to be a killer deadline. With twists and turns set against an LA skyline, Pip Drysdale shows once again that she is the undisputed queen of the sexy-cool thriller, says Hayley Scrivenor, bestselling author of Dirt Town and Girl Falling.

"Thoroughly addictive, effortlessly cool and clever as hell, The Close-Up is both a voyeuristic peek into the world of celebrity and a dark Gatsby-esque critique of the modern American Dream. From the glitter and grime of the LA backdrop to the irresistible voice of the protagonist, every page hums with an energy so delicious that once you start reading, you can't stop. Perfectly thrilling, and so much fun," shares Anna Downes, international bestselling author of The Safe Place and Red River Road.

"Pip Drysdale is a genre unto herself, the queen of the sexy thriller. Gripping, sultry and ultimately shocking, The Close-Up will bathe you in magic-hour light before it haunts your dreams. Excuse me while I check my door locks," adds Ashley Kalagian Blunt, bestselling author of Dark Mode.

"The Close-Up is smart, sexy, original and packs a powerful punch, especially those final few pages... There was no way in a million years I would have seen that explosive ending coming," praises Nicola Moriarty, bestselling author of Every Last Suspect.

"Dark, twisty, glamorous fun... Propels you headlong into a glossy world of fame and fortune, then takes a menacing turn to reveal the violence and darkness lurking behind the facade. A compulsive thriller that really gets under the skin, this book's sure to keep you up all night frantically turning the pages until every last twist is revealed," notes Hannah Richell, author of The Search Party.

"A writer's life takes a turn for the metafictional in this glossy neo-noir... Drysdale's tale takes the form of an after-the-fact tell-all written by Zoe, characterised by clever foreshadowing and an intoxicating Hollywood buzz. This offers plenty of frothy fun," from Publishers Weekly.

"The Close-Up is an absolutely breathless ride from beginning to end. It's a modern morality tale: be careful what you wish for - it may be too dangerous a price to pay. Pip Drysdale does it again in this twisty thriller with a total bombshell ending!" exclaims Petronella McGovern, author of The Last Trace.

"I inhaled this cracker of a thriller! Tension simmers on every page. The Close-Up was impossible to put down until I reached the shocking ending!" says Rae Cairns, bestselling author of The Good Mother and Dying to Know.

"A ripping tale about the fear of failure, the irresistible promise of making it big, and the glitz and grit of L.A. I completely devoured this dark, sexy and addictive thriller!" mentions Dinuka McKenzie, bestselling author of Tipping Point.

"A writer living on the edge, a sexy movie star and a stalker on the prowl. Pip Drysdale delivers her best yet with heart-hammering twists, relentless suspense and a conclusion that everyone will be talking about. I dare you to put this book down. The Close-Up is a sexy and relentless thrill ride through LA's shiny dark heart," says Loraine Peck, author of Second Son and The Double Bind.

"Suspenseful and humorous, starring an irresistible underdog heroine, The Close-Up evokes the work of Ruth Ware or Lisa Jewell. A fun and propulsive read! I highly recommend it," enthuses Daniel Kalla, bestselling author of Fit to Die.

"Pip Drysdale's riveting novel The Close-Up, set in celebrity-soaked Los Angeles, follows the irresistible Zoe whose desperate search for success leads her to the ugly underbelly of Hollywood. Gripping, dark, and thoroughly entertaining, you'll read straight through to the shocking ending," shares Mary Dixie Carter, bestselling author of The Photographer.