Vicky is 28 and after studying to be a vet at Cambridge University, she went on to do an MA in History of Art at the Courtauld Institute. Her career in journalism began after she won the Vogue Talent Contest for Young Writers in 1995. She then worked for Vogue and was Deputy Editor on The Times youth supplement, meg@. She is about to move to Edinburgh to work as Commissioning Editor on Scotland on Sunday's magazine, Spectrum.
Do not read this novel at night, alone, or in the company of a cat. But read it. Milla is a young cat therapist, and various cat-loving eccentrics people this story. If asked to choose between hunman and feline company there is little doubt as to Mina's preference. Nevertheless she does allow amorous Josh to move into her flat and domestic bliss prevails until a chance meeting with the stray cat Purrl (an albino of some presence and one time 'patieny' of Milla's) drives the plot to it's inexorable anf horrific end. Allan has both a powerful voice and a quirky imagination; her beautifully written, sensuous, erotically-charged prose, skilled plotting and carefully calculated pace all combine to make Stray a thrilling page-turner. (Kirkus UK)