Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin will be featured on the Radio 2 Book Club on Monday 7 September.
The book was selected with the help of a panel made up of Reading Agency and library staff from across the UK.
We have an exclusive extract available for you to read as well as some discussion questions for your reading group.
Black-Eyed Susans
Seventeen-year-old Tessa, dubbed a ‘Black-Eyed Susan’ by the media, became famous for being the only victim to survive the vicious attack of a serial killer…
Her testimony helped to put a dangerous criminal behind bars – or so she thought.
Now, decades later, the black-eyed susans planted outside Tessa’s bedroom window seem to be a message from a killer who should be safely in prison. Haunted by fragmented memories of the night she was attacked and terrified for her own teenage daughter’s safety, can Tessa uncover the truth about the killer before it’s too late?
Selection panel review
Our reading panel of staff from The Reading Agency and public libraries really enjoyed Black-Eyed Susans – here are some of their comments:
“A fascinating and captivating thriller, which also discusses big issues such as the death penalty, the concept of trust in therapy, and survivor guilt. Highly recommended!”
“A well written page turning thriller with convincing dialogue and characterisation. I really enjoyed this, was convinced by the characters and cared about them.”
“A real page turning read!”
About the author
Julia Heaberlin is an award-winning journalist who has worked for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Detroit News and The Dallas Morning News. She has edited numerous real-life thriller stories, including a series on the perplexing and tragic murders of girls buried in the Mexican desert and another on domestic violence. She lives with her husband and son in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where she is a freelance writer and is at work on her fourth book.
A word from Julia
“How fantastic it is to be included in a book club across an ocean, far away from the Texas town where I grew up and pondered the motives of Jack the Ripper. Black-Eyed Susans is a twisty tale that combines my journalism skills with my fiction writing skills.
In order to make this book authentic, I devoured psychological textbooks on trauma and stood outside the Texas Death House during an execution. I consulted David Dow, a legendary lawyer who has represented 100 Death Row clients and has freed two innocent ones; Anthony Graves, an innocent man who was in prison facing execution for more than eighteen years; and Rhonda Roby, a leading expert in using mitochondrial DNA to put names to bones. I have layered in three themes: the devastating reality of memory loss; the cutting edge advances in forensic science; and the slow march to a Texas execution.
I want you to be asking yourself by the end: ‘Do I believe in ghosts? Revenge? The death penalty? Can I absolutely trust my memory?’"
Get involved
Tune in to Simon Mayo’s Drivetime show on Monday 7 September to hear a live interview with Julia Heaberlin talking about her book.
Have you read Black-Eyed Susans? You can share your thoughts on Twitter, or post a review. You can also follow author Julia Heaberlin on Twitter.
Win 10 copies of Black-Eyed Susans for your reading group – just complete our short survey.
Want to find out more? Take a look at the Radio 2 Book Club Twitter feed or find out more on the Radio 2 Book Club website.
