Until it's Over Book

What a pleasure it is to be in the capable hands of the husband-and-wife duo who jointly write as Nicci French. Their new book, Until It's Over, is a salutary reminder just how accomplished Nicci Gerrard and Sean French are at turning out sophisticated and disturbing psychological thrillers.

The protagonist of the new book is a young and very fit London cycle courier Astrid Bell, who suddenly seems to be bad news for those around her. When her neighbour Peggy Farrell inadvertently knocks Astrid from her bike, Peggy is subsequently found in an alley, savagely beaten to death. Astrid is assigned to collect a package from a well-heeled women by the name of Ingrid de Soto -- but when she arrives, Astrid discovers her in the hallway of her home, also murdered. Needless to say, the police -- not great believers in coincidence -- begin to take a very close interest in Astrid, and soon life for her and her housemates begins to turn very unpleasant, with internecine squabbling (and a burgeoning apprehension about who is to die next) poisoning once friendly relationships.

The slow and inexorable breakdown in the natural order of things is meat and drink to Nicci French, and the lengthening list of strongly written crime novels has acquired another winner with Until It’s Over. It's particularly commendable that French resolutely avoids the temptation to write about a series detective. Powerful stand-alone narratives with ordinary people at the centre are the hallmarks of a Nicci French novel -- long may they remain so. --Barry Forshaw

Until It's Over is a riveting psychological thriller from the Top Ten bestselling author, Nicci FrenchDEAD. UNLUCKY.Cycle courier Astrid Bell is bad luck - for other people. First Astrid's neighbour Peggy accidentally knocks her off her bike - and not long after is found bludgeoned to death in an alley. Then a few days later, Astrid is asked to pick up a package - only to find the client slashed to pieces in the hall of her own home.For the police it's more than coincidence. For Astrid and her six housemates it's just the beginning of a nightmare - the growing suspicion that the worst is yet to come.Because if it's true that bad luck comes in threes - who will be next to die?Praise for Nicci French:'Reads like lightning' Observer'Another nail-biting thriller' Daily Express'A taut, sexy and compulsive read' Elle'Taut and menacing . . . excellent' Guardian

Until it's Over : Paperback : Penguin Books Ltd : 9780141020914 : 0141020911 : 05 Mar 2009 : Cycle courier Astrid Bell is bad luck - for other people. First Astrid's neighbour Peggy accidentally knocks her off her bike - and not long after is found bludgeoned to death in an alley. Then a few days later, Astrid is asked to pick up a package - only to find the client slashed to pieces in the hall of her own home.