Before I Knew Him

A dark and atmospheric thriller for fans of T M Logan's LIES and Liz Lawler's DON'T WAKE UP.

Leo Fisch is a young man with a brilliant future ahead of him. He is bright, sociable and on the verge of moving in with his girlfriend, Kathryn. Outwardly, at least, he seems happy.

When a sinister discovery is made in a forest near Leo's home town, a figure from childhood re-enters his life. David Caldwell is tough and aggressive - the very opposite of the company Leo now keeps. Unlikely friends, they are bound by a shared summer - and secret - they had sworn to forget.

As the past and present begin to collide, the life Leo has built for himself starts to unravel.

Now Leo must confront the boy he once was, and the events of that summer which threaten to destroy them both...

Review: Atmospheric, an excellent ear for dialogue, beautifully managed drama ... I liked it very much -- Margaret Forster

Strongly evocative of childhood ... Ralph draws wholly believable characters, tackling some painfully honest situations... This new novel adds to the reputation earned with her first work, The Floating Island, which won a Betty Trask Award * Newcastle-upon-Tyne Journal *

A remarkably well crafted book ... Through an assortment of well drawn characters, the author displays her considerable knowledge of human nautre and her sensitive insight into the human condition * Living North *