Tigerlilys Orchids

When Stuart Font decides to throw a house-warming party in his new flat, heinvites all the people in his building. After some deliberation, he evenincludes the unpleasant caretaker and his wife. There are a few othergenuine friends on the list, but he definitely does not want to include hisgirlfriend, Claudia, as that might involve asking her husband. The party will be one everyone remembers. But not for the right reasons.All the occupants of Lichfield House are about to experience a dramaticchange in their lives. Living opposite, in reclusive isolation, is a young,beautiful Asian woman, christened Tigerlily by Stuart. As though from somestrange urban fairytale, she emerges to exert a terrible spell. And Mr andMrs Font, the worried parents, will have even more cause for concern abouttheir handsome but hopelessly naive son. Darkly humorous, piercinglyobservant of human behaviour, Ruth Rendell has created here anothercompelling fable of our lives and crimes.