By Beryl Bainbridge

Home from boarding school and awaiting the return of her friend Harriet, a thirteen-year-old girl fills her time wandering the beaches of her quiet hometown. When she meets a good looking, middle-aged man in an unhappy marriage, she is eager to divulge her findings to her friend. When Harriet finally returns and is in need of some excitement, the two develop a plot to manipulate and embarrass the man. Despite the apparent innocence of the two girls, the plan has disastrous consequences.

Inspired by: The Parker-Hulme murder case of 1954—teenager Pauline Parker and her friend Juliet Hulme killed Pauline’s mother, Honorah Rieper.