'Engrossing, beguiling, and with an undertow of menace, Before the Ruins is a masterly debut from a richly talented author.' Sarah Waters'Jaw-droppingly brilliant writing' Marian KeyesAndy believes that she has left her past far behind her.But when she gets a call from Peter's mother to say he's gone missing, she finds herself pulled into a search for answers.Bored and restless after their final school exams, Andy, Peter, Em and Marcus broke into a ruined manor house nearby and quickly became friends with the boy living there.Blond, charming and on the run, David's presence was as dangerous as it was exciting.The story of a diamond necklace, stolen from the house fifty years earlier and perhaps still lost somewhere in the grounds inspired the group to buy a replica and play at hiding it, hoping to turn up the real thing along the way.But the game grew to encompass decades of resentment, lies and a terrible betrayal.Now, Andy's search for Peter will unearth unimaginable secrets - and take her back to the people who still keep them.