As an avid writer myself, I’m always keen to read debut novels by authors who have participated in writing courses such as those on offer by The Arvon Foundation or The Faber Academy. And so, I was interested to discover that Colette McBeth, author of Precious Thing, had attended Faber Academy’s Novel Writing Course in 2011.

Much of Precious Thing was set in Brighton and I was immediately drawn in by the atmospheric backdrop to the novel; the stormy promenade and the bitter sea winds certainly added an eerie element to a story that already possessed both suspense and menace in abundance.

With a female friendship at its core, Precious Thing tells the tale of Rachel and Clara – childhood friends who thought they would remain so forever. But when Clara disappears, so untold truths unfold and the nature of their friendship reveals itself as something far more sinister than it first appears.

Shifting between the past and the present, Precious Thing explores themes of trust and betrayal, truth and falsehood, and the very fine line between a friend and an enemy. A compelling page turner that will have you guessing until the very end, Precious Thing is a fantastic debut from Colette McBeth, an author who certainly proves to other budding writers that with the right combination of talent and dedication, the dream of having a published novel may just become a reality.

About Precious Thing

Remember the person you sat next to on your first day at school? Still your best friend? Or disappeared from your life for good? In Precious Thing, Rachel and Clara promised theirs would last for ever.

They met when Rachel was the new girl in class and Clara was the friend everyone wanted. Now in their late twenties Rachel has everything while Clara’s life is spiralling further out of control. Then Clara vanishes.

Imagine discovering something about your oldest friend that forces you to question everything you’ve shared together. The truth is always there. But only if you choose to see it.

About Colleen McBeth

Colette McBeth had been a BBC News reporter for 10 years when she won a place on the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course and started her first book, Precious Thing. She lives in London with her husband and three children but dreams of being beside the seaside.

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