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The Things We Do To Our Friends
Heather Darwent
You'd die for them...
They'd KILL for you.
What is the cost of an extraordinary life if others have to pay?
Clare arrives at the University of Edinburgh with a secret. This is her chance for a blank slate - to finally become who she was meant to be.
And then she meets Tabitha.
Tabitha is charismatic, beautiful and intimidatingly rich. Soon Clare is sucked into her enigmatic circle of friends and their dizzying world of champagne on rooftops and summers in France.
Her new life has begun.
Then Tabitha reveals the little project they're working on, a project they need Clare's help with. And Clare can't say no.
Because they know what she did...
They'd KILL for you.
What is the cost of an extraordinary life if others have to pay?
Clare arrives at the University of Edinburgh with a secret. This is her chance for a blank slate - to finally become who she was meant to be.
And then she meets Tabitha.
Tabitha is charismatic, beautiful and intimidatingly rich. Soon Clare is sucked into her enigmatic circle of friends and their dizzying world of champagne on rooftops and summers in France.
Her new life has begun.
Then Tabitha reveals the little project they're working on, a project they need Clare's help with. And Clare can't say no.
Because they know what she did...
GENRE
Thriller; Dark Academia
UK PUBLICATION
January 2023
Thriller; Dark Academia
UK PUBLICATION
January 2023
Praise
A Sunday Times hardback bestseller
Woman's Weekly Book Club Pick
"Quick, smart and satisfying."
Wall Street Journal
"Rainy Edinburgh is beautifully evoked, class is interrogated, the characters are well rounded and some of the choppier moments will have your heart racing ... Heather Darwent has a great career ahead of her as a thriller writer."
The Times
"This book succeeds as pacy entertainment and Darwent's incisive gaze shows her to be a promising young writer."
The Irish Examiner
"Heather Darwent's page-turning debut is dark, twisted and intoxicating."
You
"This is a terrific title for a book which investigates the toxicity of wealth and the effects rich people can have on those around them ... The gothic splendour of [Edinburgh] is beautifully realised and makes a perfect backdrop for the story, in which Darwent combines serious issues with a rattling good plot."
Daily Mail
"Creepy yet compulsive, this impressive novel will stay with you long after reading."
Heat (Book of the Week)
"This twisted thriller about toxic friendships makes for compulsive reading."
Closer
"Dark and gripping."
The Independent
"Perfect for fans of dark academia stories like The Secret History and If We Were Villains ... this debut revolves around a toxic friendship at Edinburgh University."
Cosmopolitan
"Darwent, who is based near Edinburgh after studying in the city herself, keeps the reader guessing. Any time the balance of power appears to settle, the plot takes another twist, and she’s good at descriptions with a sinister edge, from a dish of Peking duck to a shadow of mould on a wall."
Scotland on Sunday
"In this expertly plotted feminist thriller Darwent seamlessly blends elements of Gone Girl and Promising Young Woman. The writing is smart, sophisticated and seductive ... This is a beguiling and brilliant novel you won’t want to miss."
S. J. Watson
"This riveting tale is a must-read for fans of dark academia and anyone who likes psychological thrillers."
Apple Books
"Themes of obsession, revenge and desire collide in a twisty, dark and delicious feminist thriller."
Big Issue North
"Heather Darwent displays a mastery of her subject and astounding levels of observation down to minute details. Short, tense chapters and a firm grasp over how much information is concealed and revealed, rich plot, perfect pacing ... Delightfully diabolical, thoroughly enjoyable."
Chikodili Emelumadu
"Deviously plotted . . . the characters . . . like a nest of vipers, are tough to take one’s eyes off of. Darwent is off to an auspicious start."
Publisher's Weekly
"The Things We Do To Our Friends is a thrilling debut, difficult to put down and wonderfully twisted."
The Skinny
"Compelling, twisty and surprising, with an intriguing and complex heroine."
Phoebe Wynne
"Finished this at 1.30am last night because I just HAD to get to the end. Dark academia and twisted friendships in gothic Edinburgh – what more could you want? One for fans of The Secret History and all things deliciously dark."
Cailean Steed
"Seductive and sinister."
Woman & Home (included in February 2023 book club)
"Superbly written, this is a truly sparkling debut that has more than a few shades of Erin Kelly about it. A great new voice has just joined the psychological thriller genre. TTWDTOF is pitch perfect in terms of characterisation, plot and pacing. Full-throttle suspense and genuinely chilling - I felt quite literally 'lured' to the final page! Brilliantly done!"
T Orr Munro
"Like nothing you've read before! A menacing and marvellous portrayal of power, friendship and belonging."
Lauren North
"The Things We Do to Our Friends is a heady, tense, intoxicating tale that lurches between the miseries of obsession and the thrills of revenge."
Elisabeth Thomas
"Dark and compulsive, it will have you turning the pages late into the night."
Sarah Bonner
"Razor sharp prose and an atmosphere sizzling with tension and intrigue, The Things We Do To Our Friends is a deeply compelling story of friendships turned rotten. With the shallow affect of Donna Tartt's Richard Pappen and the eerie undercurrent of Shirley Jackson's Merricat Blackwood, Clare is a brilliantly unsettling and memorable protagonist. A treat for lovers of mystery and menace."
Rosemary Hannigan
"Sinister, compelling, utterly spellbinding, I couldn't put it down."
Vikki Patis
"The Things We Do To Our Friends is such an immersive, surprising, impressive debut from Heather Darwent. Draw the curtains on the dark wet nights of Jan 2023, put on a bit of Lana Del Ray or similar, and sink into the creepy-delicate-deliciousness of this novel."
Niamh Hargan
"Menacing and suspenseful with drippings of Donna Tartt."
Victoria Selman
"The Things We Do To Our Friends is one of the best suspense debuts I've read in years. Heather Darwent's prose is startlingly lovely, like a fine, dark silk shivering on your skin. She delivers one artful tease after another until you are completely lost in this labyrinth of clever women and obsessive friendships. I'm already saying, more Heather, please."
Julia Heaberlin
"The Things We Do To Our Friends by Heather Darwent is a stunning debut. A deliciously dark story of toxic friendship that made me gasp on several occasions - so, so good - one of those books I wish I could have written."
Nikki Smith
"What a book. Power, privilege and the most toxic of friendships. All set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh. Stunningly written. Thriller fans, run don't walk to get this when it comes out in January. It's a must read."
Carys Jones
Woman's Weekly Book Club Pick
"Quick, smart and satisfying."
Wall Street Journal
"Rainy Edinburgh is beautifully evoked, class is interrogated, the characters are well rounded and some of the choppier moments will have your heart racing ... Heather Darwent has a great career ahead of her as a thriller writer."
The Times
"This book succeeds as pacy entertainment and Darwent's incisive gaze shows her to be a promising young writer."
The Irish Examiner
"Heather Darwent's page-turning debut is dark, twisted and intoxicating."
You
"This is a terrific title for a book which investigates the toxicity of wealth and the effects rich people can have on those around them ... The gothic splendour of [Edinburgh] is beautifully realised and makes a perfect backdrop for the story, in which Darwent combines serious issues with a rattling good plot."
Daily Mail
"Creepy yet compulsive, this impressive novel will stay with you long after reading."
Heat (Book of the Week)
"This twisted thriller about toxic friendships makes for compulsive reading."
Closer
"Dark and gripping."
The Independent
"Perfect for fans of dark academia stories like The Secret History and If We Were Villains ... this debut revolves around a toxic friendship at Edinburgh University."
Cosmopolitan
"Darwent, who is based near Edinburgh after studying in the city herself, keeps the reader guessing. Any time the balance of power appears to settle, the plot takes another twist, and she’s good at descriptions with a sinister edge, from a dish of Peking duck to a shadow of mould on a wall."
Scotland on Sunday
"In this expertly plotted feminist thriller Darwent seamlessly blends elements of Gone Girl and Promising Young Woman. The writing is smart, sophisticated and seductive ... This is a beguiling and brilliant novel you won’t want to miss."
S. J. Watson
"This riveting tale is a must-read for fans of dark academia and anyone who likes psychological thrillers."
Apple Books
"Themes of obsession, revenge and desire collide in a twisty, dark and delicious feminist thriller."
Big Issue North
"Heather Darwent displays a mastery of her subject and astounding levels of observation down to minute details. Short, tense chapters and a firm grasp over how much information is concealed and revealed, rich plot, perfect pacing ... Delightfully diabolical, thoroughly enjoyable."
Chikodili Emelumadu
"Deviously plotted . . . the characters . . . like a nest of vipers, are tough to take one’s eyes off of. Darwent is off to an auspicious start."
Publisher's Weekly
"The Things We Do To Our Friends is a thrilling debut, difficult to put down and wonderfully twisted."
The Skinny
"Compelling, twisty and surprising, with an intriguing and complex heroine."
Phoebe Wynne
"Finished this at 1.30am last night because I just HAD to get to the end. Dark academia and twisted friendships in gothic Edinburgh – what more could you want? One for fans of The Secret History and all things deliciously dark."
Cailean Steed
"Seductive and sinister."
Woman & Home (included in February 2023 book club)
"Superbly written, this is a truly sparkling debut that has more than a few shades of Erin Kelly about it. A great new voice has just joined the psychological thriller genre. TTWDTOF is pitch perfect in terms of characterisation, plot and pacing. Full-throttle suspense and genuinely chilling - I felt quite literally 'lured' to the final page! Brilliantly done!"
T Orr Munro
"Like nothing you've read before! A menacing and marvellous portrayal of power, friendship and belonging."
Lauren North
"The Things We Do to Our Friends is a heady, tense, intoxicating tale that lurches between the miseries of obsession and the thrills of revenge."
Elisabeth Thomas
"Dark and compulsive, it will have you turning the pages late into the night."
Sarah Bonner
"Razor sharp prose and an atmosphere sizzling with tension and intrigue, The Things We Do To Our Friends is a deeply compelling story of friendships turned rotten. With the shallow affect of Donna Tartt's Richard Pappen and the eerie undercurrent of Shirley Jackson's Merricat Blackwood, Clare is a brilliantly unsettling and memorable protagonist. A treat for lovers of mystery and menace."
Rosemary Hannigan
"Sinister, compelling, utterly spellbinding, I couldn't put it down."
Vikki Patis
"The Things We Do To Our Friends is such an immersive, surprising, impressive debut from Heather Darwent. Draw the curtains on the dark wet nights of Jan 2023, put on a bit of Lana Del Ray or similar, and sink into the creepy-delicate-deliciousness of this novel."
Niamh Hargan
"Menacing and suspenseful with drippings of Donna Tartt."
Victoria Selman
"The Things We Do To Our Friends is one of the best suspense debuts I've read in years. Heather Darwent's prose is startlingly lovely, like a fine, dark silk shivering on your skin. She delivers one artful tease after another until you are completely lost in this labyrinth of clever women and obsessive friendships. I'm already saying, more Heather, please."
Julia Heaberlin
"The Things We Do To Our Friends by Heather Darwent is a stunning debut. A deliciously dark story of toxic friendship that made me gasp on several occasions - so, so good - one of those books I wish I could have written."
Nikki Smith
"What a book. Power, privilege and the most toxic of friendships. All set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh. Stunningly written. Thriller fans, run don't walk to get this when it comes out in January. It's a must read."
Carys Jones
Rights Sales for THE THINGS WE DO TO OUR FRIENDS
World Rights: Viking, PRH