"A searing, chilling sliver of perfection . . . May well turn out to be the year's best thriller." --Charles Finch, * The New York Times Book Review*

"A searing, chilling sliver of perfection . . . May well turn out to be the year's best thriller." --Charles Finch, * The New York Times Book Review*

"This is simply one of the nastiest and most disturbing thrillers I've read in years. I loved it, right down to the utterly chilling final line." --Gillian FlynnA spellbinding, darkly twisted novel about desire and obsession, and the complicated lines between truth and perception,* Our Kind of Cruelty *introduces Araminta Hall, a chilling new voice in psychological suspense.

This is a love story.* Mike's * love story.

Mike Hayes fought his way out of a brutal childhood and into a quiet, if lonely, life before he met Verity Metcalf. V taught him about love, and in return, Mike has dedicated his life to making her happy. He's found the perfect home, the perfect job; he's sculpted himself into the physical ideal V has always wanted. He knows they'll be blissfully happy together.

It doesn't matter that she hasn't been returning his e-mails or phone calls.

It doesn't matter that she says she's marrying Angus.

It's all just part of the secret game they used to play. If Mike watches V closely, he'll see the signs. If he keeps track of her every move, he'll know just when to come to her rescue . . .