THE INNER CIRCLE

In this legal thriller a Moldovan girl is found drowned in the Thames and two determined women (a lawyer and a political advisor) must work together to uncover an Epstein-like trafficking and blackmail scandal at the heart of the British government.

THE INNER CIRCLE draws upon Anna's legal background as a human rights and criminal justice solicitor, and her experience of tackling misogyny and privilege. It will be published under a pseudonym as it's so different to Anna's other work, but an open one to enable us to use her legal background and connections. It's aimed at the Anatomy of A Scandal market and I think it's very hooky and commercial, and I can envisage it reaching a wide audience.

Alex is a solicitor trying to keep afloat in a struggling London legal aid practice. When she takes on a new case for a Moldovan woman whose younger sister's body was found in the Thames, Alex assumes Natalia's story will be the usual sadly predictable tale of addiction and poverty.

On the other side of the river, Kat has secured her dream job: special adviser to the charismatic new Home Secretary, introducing her to a seductive new world of power, elitism and influence.

But when the girl's inquest is speedily shut down, and Kat begins to query why immigration cases have been quashed, both Alex and Kat suspect that they have stumbled upon high level corruption. Might it link to the disappearance of Alex's sister twelve years before?

What follows will take them to the heart of a political scandal involving misogyny, international corruption, and abuse of power.

Anna Mazzola is the award-winning author of three historical thrillers plus one ghost novel. Her debut novel, The Unseeing, won an Edgar Allan Poe award in the US. Her third novel, The Clockwork Girl, set in 18th century Paris, reached number 11 in the Sunday Times Chart. Her fourth novel, The House of Whispers is a ghost story set in Fascist Italy and will be published by Orion in April 2023. She is a writing coach at The Novelry.