The Guilty One

A little boy was found dead in a children's playground...Daniel Hunter has spent years defending lost causes as a solicitor in London. But his life changes when he is introduced to Sebastian, an eleven-year-old accused of murdering an innocent young boy. As he plunges into the muddy depths of Sebastian's troubled home life, Daniel thinks back to his own childhood in foster care - and to Minnie, the woman whose love saved him, until she, too, betrayed him so badly that he cut her out of his life. But what crime did Minnie commit that made Daniel disregard her for fifteen years? And will Daniel's identification with a child on trial for murder make him question everything he ever believed in? Review [a] moving, insightful debut ... It's easy to see why this caused such a stir at Frankfurt last year. If it isn't this year's Before I Go To Sleep, I'll eat my laptop The Guardian About the Author Lisa Ballantyne was born in Armadale, West Lothian, Scotland and was educated at Armadale Academy and University of St Andrews. She spent most of her twenties working and living in China, before returning to the UK in 2002, to work in Higher Education. She lives in Glasgow; this is her first novel. The Number One Bestseller! 'one Of The Most Readable, Emotionally Intense Novels Of The Year' Richard And Judy Daniel Hunter Has Spent Years Defending Lost Causes As A Solicitor In London. But His Life Changes When He Is Introduced To Sebastian, An Eleven-year-old Accused Of Murdering An Innocent Young Boy. As He Plunges Into The Muddy Depths Of Sebastian's Troubled Home Life, Daniel Thinks Back To His Own Childhood In Foster Care - And To Minnie, The Woman Whose Love Saved Him, Until She, Too, Betrayed Him So Badly That He Cut Her Out Of His Life. But What Crime Did Minnie Commit That Made Daniel Disregard Her For Fifteen Years? And Will Daniel's Identification With A Child On Trial For Murder Make Him Question Everything He Ever Believed In? A Richard & Judy Book Club Favourite And International Phenomenon. Deeply Psychological And Suspenseful, The Guilty One Is Both A Legal Thriller And A Human Story Of Love And Redemption. 'moving, Insightful' Guardian 'a Page-turner With Real Emotional Depth' Daily Express 'thought-provoking, Brave, Challenging, Compulsive' Rosamund Lupton 'an Absorbing Psychological Debut' Company 'sophisticated, Suspenseful, Unsettling' Lee Child 'grips Like A Vice' Daily Mail 'one Of The Best Debuts I've Ever Encountered. An Outstanding Work Of Fiction' Daily Record 'will Touch Your Heart, Even As It Leaves You Unsettled' Hallie Ephron 'i Couldn't Get This Book Out Of My Head. It Kept Me Up All Night And Guessing The Whole Way Through. I Loved It' Jenny Colgan *don't Miss Little Liar, The Deeply Compulsive New Novel By Lisa Ballantyne* London solicitor Daniel Hunter finds his life changed when he meets an eleven-year-old boy accused of murdering an eight-year-old boy--a case that forces him to confront his own childhood and unearths memories he'd long buried. THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER! A Richard & Judy Book Club favourite and an international phenomenon. Deeply psychological and suspenseful, The Guilty One is both a legal thriller and a human story of love and redemption.