The Origins of Iris

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What to expect

Wild meets Sliding Doors, with a healthy dose of darkness thrown in, as Iris meets an alternate version of herself in the woods after escaping her abusive wife.

'I opened my eyes and the woman wearing my face opened hers at the same time.'

Iris, desperate to escape her unhappy marriage to her beautiful but controlling wife Claude, flees New York City for the remote Catskill Mountains. When she was a child, Iris and her father found solace in the beauty and wilderness of the forest and now Iris needs time and space to clear her head and come to terms with the mistakes which have led her here. But what Iris doesn't expect in this journey of survival and self-discovery is to find herself - quite literally.

Trapped in a neglected cabin deep in the mountains and with rapidly dwindling supplies, Iris is grudgingly forced to come face-to-face with a seemingly happier, prettier, better version of herself. An Iris who made difference choices in life and love. But is this other Iris all she seems? Can she be trusted? What is she hiding? And why did she end up here if her life went down such a different path?

(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

Critics Review

An empathic, brave exploration of serious themes.
Daily Mail
Extraordinarily raw, gripping and totally unforgettable - Peterborough Telegraph
Peterborough Telegraph
Gosh, this original and thought-spinningly intricate yet quietly simple read speared my emotions. I found myself utterly consumed ... and absolutely adored every word.
LoveReading.co.uk
A beautiful reflection on the great conundrum of choices made and abandoned, loves pursued and betrayed
Sophie Ward, author of the Book Prize longlisted Love and Other Thought Experiments
Evocative and unexpected, tender and fierce, The Origins of Iris is unlike any other thriller I've read in years . . . Outstanding'
Sarah Hilary, award-winning author of Someone Else's Skin
This novel is like a dream, from the haunting narrative to the beautiful prose to the way Iris and her wilderness kept making their way into my subconscious at night. It is everything I could want from a book
Anna Bailey, Sunday Times bestselling author of Tall Bones
Reviews
5
Compelling, original and highly readable
Kate Hamer, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Girl In The Red Coat
Atmospheric, thought-provoking, complex. A haunting exploration of one woman's journey into the dark heart of herself
Tamar Cohen, bestselling author of When She Was Bad
A tale of wonder, heartbreak and mystery, beautifully told. Loved every word
Emma Haughton, author of The Dark
Evocative, transportive writing telling a story of regrets, choices, loss, and love in many forms. This is a lyrical, dark, and beautiful book
Amanda Jennings, author of The Storm
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