Blink of an Eye - Softcover

In a heartbeat, life changes.

A sunny, Sunday afternoon, a family barbecue, and Naomi Baxter and her boyfriend Alex celebrate good news. Driving home, Naomi's recklessness causes a fatal accident, leaving nine-year-old Lily Vasey dead, Naomi fighting for her life, Alex bruised and bloody and the lives of three families torn apart.

Traumatised, Naomi has no clear memory of the crash and her mother Carmel is forced to break the shocking truth of the child's death to her. Naomi may well be prosecuted for causing death by dangerous driving. If convicted she will face a jail term of up to 14 years, especially if her sister's claim that Naomi was drink-driving is proven.In the months before the trial, Carmel strives to help a haunted and remorseful Naomi cope with the consequences of her actions.

Blink of an Eye is a novel about the nightmare that could be just around the next bend for any one of us.

Praise for Cath Staincliffe,

'A book about courage and compromise, about how sometimes it's kinder and braver to lie. Stunning.' Anne Cleeves.

Modest, compassionate...a solid ingenious plotter with a sharp eye for domestic detail.' Literary Review

'Complex and satisfying.' The Sunday Times

'About as good as the British private eye novel gets.' Time Out

'An engrossing read'. Sunday Telegraph.

'a page-turning, insightful thriller.' Big Issue.

What's your worst nightmare?

Imagine a sunny Sunday afternoon. A family barbeque. A celebration. Then tragedy strikes. You wake in hospital, traumatized. Your mother tells you about the accident, a nine-year-old dead, your partner bloody and bruised, the lives of three families torn apart. You face prosecution for causing death by dangerous driving. It could mean 14 years in jail. What have you done?

Welcome to Naomi's world.

Praise for Cath Staincliffe

'Thought-provoking reportage about one aspect of modern Britain.' Literary Review

'An intelligent and emotionally engaging moral workout.' Jake Kerridge, Daily Telegraph

'A book about courage and compromise, about how sometimes it's kinder and braver to lie. Stunning.' Anne Cleeves

'Modest, compassionate . . . a solid, ingenious plotter with a sharp eye for domestic detail.' Literary Review

'Complex and satisfying.' Sunday Times

'About as good as the British private eye novel gets.' Time Out

'It's always exciting to see a writer get better and better, and Cath Staincliffe is doing just that.' Val McDermid

'An engrossing read.' Sunday Telegraph

'A tense, thought-provoking novel that's full of compassion.' Women's Weekly