Little ones will have so much fun learning first words and opposites in this paw-some board book by Sam Lloyd, illustrator of the classic Calm Down, Boris!. Bright, adorable illustrations accompany the opposite pairs on each page to create the perfect learning experience for toddlers.

Includes a handy guide for parents to explore how to read with their child, created by BookTrust, the UK's largest reading charity – perfect for introducing fun, interactive ways to elevate a child's reading experience.

‘One thing I’ve learned, these last few weeks, is that small acts of kindness are far less effective than fear…’

She watches them in the dead of night. Hidden in plain sight, Mercy Lake provides what people need. Quietly. In secret. Making lives better.

But he is watching too. And he doesn’t want to help anyone – he wants to punish them. And he wants Mercy to join him.

Soon, though, their activities draw the attention of the very person Mercy is desperate to avoid. Someone who will go to extreme lengths to make her pay for knowing their secret . . .

The People Watcher is a shiver-inducing, heart-pounding suspense thriller that will keep you up into the early hours – perfect for fans of Alex Michaelides, Helen Fields and Catherine Ryan Howard.

********

Readers can’t put down The People Watcher!

‘WOW! So full of suspense. The ending was a shocker!‘ ? ? ? ? ? Reader Review

‘Wow wow wow this book did not disappoint. I read it in 2 sittings. So many twists and turns. I absolutely loved this book – a must read!!‘ ? ? ? ? ?

‘Original, creepy and devastatingly clever. I raced through The People Watcher yet didn’t want it to end. Utterly addictive. I loved it!‘ Sunday Times bestseller ANDREA MARA

‘Oh … my … word. The ending was such a shock and left me speechless. I normally see things coming, but not this time!’ ? ? ? ? ?

‘Twisty and dark as the night itself, it is impossible to put down. A triumph.’ – NEIL LANCASTER

‘Absorbing and richly detailed, a novel with real heart.’ LISA BALLANTYNE, Richard & Judy book club bestselling author of The Guilty One

‘Non-stop drama, full of surprises and twists and turns. I found it thoroughly engaging, something different and one not to be missed.‘ ? ? ? ? ?

‘Intriguing characters and a gripping plot – what crime fiction should be!‘ ? ? ? ? ?

‘Another cracking thriller from Sam Lloyd.’ ? ? ? ? ?

‘Fiendishly clever’ Sunday Times

The new pulse-pounding thriller from the bestselling author of THE MEMORY WOOD.

******

HOW DID IT COME TO THIS?

The news doesn’t strike cleanly, like a guillotine’s blade. Nothing so merciful. This news is a slovenly traveller, dragging its feet, gradually revealing its horrors. And it announces itself first with violence – the urgent hammering of fists on the front door.

Life can change in a heartbeat.

Lucy has everything she could wish for: a beautiful home high on the clifftops, a devoted husband and two beloved children.

Then one morning, time stops. Their family yacht is recovered, abandoned far out at sea. Lucy’s husband is nowhere to be found and as the seconds tick by, she begins to wonder – what if he was the one who took the boat? And if so, where is he now?

As a once-in-a-generation storm frustrates the rescue operation, Lucy pieces together what happened onboard. And then she makes a fresh discovery. One that plunges her into a living nightmare . . .

Wherever her husband is, he isn’t alone. Because their children are missing, too.

******

Praise for Sam Lloyd:

‘Lloyd is a rare new thriller talent.’ Daily Mail

‘Stunning prose and compulsive reading.’ Lesley Kara

‘An intense, atmospheric, and truly original thriller.’ Shari Lapena

‘A beautifully written, fast-paced thriller.’ Heat

‘A darkly chilling and original novel . . . a series of twists keeps readers captivated until a shocking climax.’ Daily Express

‘Brilliant writing, a terrifying story, and characters so real it feels like you know them.’ Samantha Downing

‘A truly chilling story.’ Woman & Home