Penance

A Guardian Best Book of the Year
A Dazed Best Novel of 2023

An unmissable banger. ALICE SLATER
A meta-meditation on the mysteries, malice, and minutiae of adolescence. TOM BENN
Youve never read anything like this. JULIA ARMFIELD

Do you know what happened already? Did you know her? Did you see it on the internet? Did you listen to a podcast? Did the hosts make jokes?

Did you see the pictures of the body?

Did you look for them?

Its been nearly a decade since the horrifying murder of sixteen-year-old Joan Wilson rocked the small seaside town of Crow-on-Sea. Based on hours of interviews with witnesses and family members, and even correspondence with the killers themselves, journalist Alec Z. Carelli has constructed what he claims is the definitive account of the crime. Its a riveting snapshot of lives scarred by tragedy, and a town left in turmoil.

The only question is: how much of Carellis story is true?

Deeply disturbing and hilarious. IMOGEN CRIMP
Insanely propulsive . . . Shes a master of structure that Clark. JENNY MUSTARD


WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
Once again, Eliza Clark conjures her dark magic to pen something disturbing and addictive. @mostardentlyalice
Elizas writing is pure brilliance and she captivates you with every page. @zoreadsbooks
Taking aim at our relationship with true crime, the brutality of teenage girls and classicism, it was easily my favourite read of 2023 so far. @charlotte__reads_
So cleverly written I am mind blown. @jordslibrary
Eliza Clark is a genius. @mydarkgrace

**Eliza Clarks incendiary debut, Boy Parts, is available now**