Nothing without me : a novel
(Book)

She's dying to be famous. The gripping tale of a film director with a shadowy past, her missing lead actress, and the disturbing cost of fame-from"addictive" (People) suspense writer Helen Monks TakharApril Eden is about to have the night of her life. After years struggling uphill as a female director, her debut movie The Vanished Woman is up for a major British film award, placing her firmly on Hollywood's radar. Her leading lady, Essie Lay-a fragile but magnetic former TV presenter-is on the cusp of a stunning comeback after being canceled for a disturbing scandal.When Essie messages April sayingshe can't face the ceremony, April heads to Essie's palatial London mansion, Lotus Lodge, to convince her to enjoy their big night together. Butuponarriving,Aprilis faced with tragedy: Essie's body is floating in her swimming pool, all signs pointing to suicide. Panicked,Aprilactivates Essie's team-her put-upon sister/manager,Janine,and wily agent, Jonathan-expecting them to do damage control whilesheheads to the awards ceremony devastated but determined to do what she can to protect Essie's legacy.But by the time April returns to Lotus Lodge to face the fall-out, Essie's body has vanished. Was Essie actually murdered? Is this an elaborate hoax or publicity stunt gone wrong? And why does April start receiving unsettling messages, trying to pin blame on her?Taut, twisty, and deliciously page-turning, Nothing Without Me examines the high price of female fame, how far some will go to climb the slippery ladders of celebrity and creative success, and theunbearablepressure of being the woman everyone wants to be.