Rise and Fall of a Domestic Diva (29 page)

She’d stood drinking water, looking out at the Laing garden, which had been subject to quite a few of Linda’s not-so-successful whims.

Jessica had gone back upstairs and there was Joe, standing at the hall window.

He’d heard her on the stairs and turned and smiled.

She’d gone and stood next to him at the window, unable to see - other than the night - what it was he’d been looking at.

After a while, he’d said, ‘It’s good to have the world to yourself for while.’

Jessica had agreed.

Then he’d said, ‘I’m looking at forest - nothing but forest as far as the eye can see.’

Jessica tried, but couldn’t see this.

Then a train had passed through the night - probably freight - along the tracks at the top of the close, and this had broken the moment and she’d gone to bed.

Now the wind and moonlight were playing tricks on her and the garden was overgrown anyway, but for a moment - when she looked out of the window - she saw nothing but trees as far as the eye could see, and the world was new and belonged to her.

This book - simply - would never have reached its final state without the tirelessly honest input of my agent, Clare Alexander.

A huge ‘thank you’ also to the boundless enthusiasm, support and laughter-in-all-the-right-places of Clare Hey and the rest of you (you know who you are!) at HarperCollins.

THE RISE AND FALL OF A DOMESTIC DIVA

Sarah May is an intimate observer of society (AKA curtaintwitcher of the highest order). She is the author of four previous novels:
The Rise and Fall of the Queen of Suburbia
,
The Nudist Colony
, which was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award;
Spanish City
and
The Internationals
. She lives in London with her theatre director husband and their two children.

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Praise for
The Rise and Fall of the Queen of Suburbia
:

‘This is writing at the level of myth: fully formed, recognisable, unique’
Guardian

‘May’s shrewd sideways glance makes this a novel moving and menacing by turns. Her ensemble - aerobics-obsessed Linda, rebellious Dominique, the creepy Niemans - are often gruesome, but all too convincing’
Observer

‘The narrative is beautifully observed, with the subtle touch of a writer who makes every action and mannerism feel plausible. Sarah May has a rare talent for melding the farcical with the tragic, and has produced a novel which - but for an ending worthy of Tom Sharpe - is a scathingly successful piece of social commentary’
Daily Mail

‘Sarah May has brought the obsessions, ambitions and class paranoia of Thatcher’s Britain beautifully back to life. It’s a visceral read, but this is one book you’ll be happy to read in a rush’
Daily Express

‘An observant and side-splittingly funny read’
Sun

‘Like Mike Leigh directing
Desperate Housewives
, a brilliantly 1980s suburban drama’
Elle

‘Steeped in intrigue and comic detail’
Woman

‘A witty and wicked soap opera about death, adultery and desperate housewives’
Instyle Magazine

‘A fast-paced book that’s the perfect read to roll down your leg warmers and enjoy with a nice bottle of Blue Nun and a chicken Kiev’
First Magazine

‘Full of hilarious pop-culture detail, this is a dizzying celebration of the 80s…Laugh-out-loud’
Eve Magazine

‘Truly original chick-lit’
Heat