In conversation with HEIDI PERKS

The thriller writer on how her fears influence her books and the joy of writing courses

- ZOE WEST

Heidi Perks spent 15 years in marketing before making her literary breakthrough in 2018 with Now You See Her — a debut thriller about a missing four-year-old girl. Her gripping books delve into complex human relationships, creating compelling stories we can’t get enough of. Following a string of bestsellers, her seventh novel, Someone is Lying, sees teenage girl Issie disappear while on holiday in Portugal with her boyfriend Dylan. It’s her mum Jess’ worst nightmare, but with the boyfriend refusing to talk, what does she have to do in order to find her?

Learning to accept your child will grow apart from you as they get older is difficult. But it did give me the seed of an idea for Someone is Lying. It also came from a conversation I had with a friend, whose 18-year-old daughter had a boyfriend she didn't like. My starting point was: what do you do if something happens with your teenage child, and it’s out of your control?

My first book, Now You See Her