Andrew Taylor

Cybersex is a dangerous world (especially for novelists)

Following S.J. Watson’s bestselling Before I Go to Sleep, Second Life provides a similarly compelling, claustrophobic slice of domestic noir

issue 14 February 2015

Few first novels are as successful as S.J. Watson’s Before I Go to Sleep, which married a startling and unusual premise to a tightly controlled and claustrophobic thriller. Its only drawback was that it was a hard act to follow.

Novelists tend to dump all their brilliant ideas into their first book, and the white heat of originality compensates to some extent for any want of craft.

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