Born and raised in South Gloucestershire, Bonnie Burke-Patel studied History at Oxford. After working for half a decade in politics and policy, she changed careers and became a preschool teacher, before beginning to write full time. She lives with her husband, son, and needy cat in south east London, and is working on her next crime novel about fairy tales, desire, and the seaside.
'A hard-hitting mystery drama that simultaneously celebrates and skewers the country house tradition, Bonnie Burke-Patel's debut is beautifully written, told with empathy and a razor-sharp wit. I couldn't put it down' - Seth Insua, author of Human, Animal -- Seth Insua 'Beautifully written with a deeply moving climax, Bonnie Burke-Patel’s debut is a gripping novel full of hope. In a woman’s search for a different future, the secrets of the past are unearthed, revealed with perfectly paced drama. Exquisite and emotional, this is a thrilling read' -- Lucy Ashe, author of Clara and Olivia 'An effortless modern twist on the country house mystery genre, this is also at times a rather tender meditation on how British society’s views on women has changed and how much the past still imprisons us in its cage of guilt. Evocative of country life, characters that draw you in and that the reader will have empathy with, all in all a strong variation on a popular mystery trope and a worthy accomplishment.' Maxim Jakubowski, Crime Time 'Superbly and elegantly written, it has much to say about gender and racial inequality in modern Britain, along with some thinly disguised disdain for the smug entitlement of its Barbour-clad aristocracy. Added to this is Burke-Patel’s depiction of the interior lives of Anna and Hitesh, which is executed with skill, finesse and considerable compassion. A very impressive debut from a fully-formed writer' Irish Independent