Exquisite

August 28, 2017
This dismal tale of obsession, cruelty, and betrayal from Stovell (Mothernight) charts the intense and lustful relationship that develops between Bo Luxton, a successful writer, and Alice Dark, a talented writing student. At a writers’ conference in England’s Lake District, Bo, who’s happily married with two daughters, agrees to serve as a mentor to Alice, who lives with a freeloading boyfriend and has survived a horrendous childhood. As the bond between the two women grows, it becomes clear that Bo and Alice have the power to destroy more than their own two lives. Less clear is just who the victim is. Bo, the stronger personality, is manipulative and cunning, feeding Alice’s obsession with her even as she tries to sever the connection. At one point, Bo muses, “She was so uncontainable, so open and so fragile. I knew she would never last.” Alice does indeed pay a price, but so does Bo. Those expecting an unhappy ending won’t be disappointed. Agent: Blake Friedmann, Blake Friedmann Literary Agency (U.K.).