The Amber Fury

*** Shortlisted for the Deanston Scottish Crime Book of the Year Award 2014 *** When you open up, who will you let in? Alex Morris has lost everything:her relationship, her career and her faith in the future. Moving to Edinburgh to escape her demons, Alex takes a job teaching at a Pupil Referral Unit. It’s a place for kids whose behaviour is so extreme that they cannot be taught in a normal classroom. Alex is fragile with grief and way out of her depth. Her fourth-year students are troubled and violent. In desperation to reach them, Alex turns to the stories she knows best. Greek tragedy isn’t the most obvious way to win over such damaged children, yet these tales of fate, family and vengeance speak directly to them. Enthralled by the bloodthirsty justice of the ancient world, the teenagers begin to weave the threads of their own tragedy – one that Alex watches, helpless to prevent.

Reviews of The Amber Fury

A handsomely structured psychological mystery, and a moving exploration of grief –Lionel Shriver I stayed up all night to finish The Amber Fury. It's gripping and compelling, a real page-turner, written with humanity and warmth –S.J. Watson, author of BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP Haynes' debut is not only a gripping thriller, but also a beautifully drawn portrait of grief and how we find our way back to life. I loved it. –Madeline Miller, author of THE SONG OF ACHILLES A gripping first novel…impossible to put down. –Herman Koch, author of the international bestseller, THE DINNER Compelling, wise, compassionate, and devastating, Natalie Haynes' masterfully-wrought drama of rage, loss and redemption stirs both contemplation and tears. Her debut marks the arrival of a forceful, thrilling new talent –Liz Jensen, bestselling author of THE UNINVITED and THE RAPTURE Gripping and elegiac, funny and achingly sad, Haynes' tale pulls you along like a river to the falls. Hypnotic –Joss Whedon, creator of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and screenwriter of TOY STORY