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SIMONE VAN DER VLUGT (1966) is an acclaimed Dutch writer, well known for her young adult
novels. THE REUNION is her debut novel for adults. She lives with her husband and two children in Alkmaar, The Netherlands.
Her third novel, HET LAATSTE OFFER, her fourth, BLAUW WATER – ‘Anyone who can capture women’s fears so cleverly, deserves a place at the top’ Crimezone; Blue Water reads like a nightmare you fear you won’t wake from. Van der Vlugt brilliantly builds the tension’ 4 stars, Veronica, and her fifth HERFSTLIED are also huge bestsellers in Holland and all have already been bought by Diana Verlag/Heyne in Germany. She has most recently published a historical novel entitled DAUGHTER OF HOLLAND, about the unconventional 15th century warrior queen Jacoba van Beieren, a story she manages to bring to life incredibly vividly.
WINNER OF THE NS PUBLIEKSPRIJS 2010 for 'in the clear light of day'
Best DUTCH THRILLER, crimezone 2010 'IN THE CLEAR LIGHT OF DAY'
NOMINATED FOR THE NS PUBLIEKPRIJS 2007 FOR 'the final sacrifice'
blue water (BLAUW WATER)
SIMONE VAN DER VLUGT’S BEST NOVEL TO DATE
NOMINATED FOR:
THE NS PUBLIEKSPRIJS 2008
THE GOUDEN STROP 2008
WINNER OF:
ZILVEREN VINGERAFDRUK 2009
‘Someone who can describe the universal fears of women this brilliantly, deserves her place at the top. She did it before and she does it again. All honour to her.’ Crimezone
‘Van der Vlugt knows how to tell more by writing less. The tension stays tight and reading to the end is a must. And there are several unexpected plot twists, all in all nothing but praise.’ Ezzulia
‘Just imagine it: you are standing as a single mother in your garden of your isolated house, hanging the washing out and suddenly an escaped convict appears who holds you and your daughter hostage. How will this end? Escape isn’t an option, there are no neighbours, you can’t even rely on attention from the postman. Lisa does everything, even the unimaginable, to save her life and especially her child’s life. In the meantime she asks herself why the woman, who appeared out of the mist in her garden and saw her desperation, hasn’t organised a rescue. In vivid and well written pages, pages that simmer with angst, tension and lust for revenge, the talented bestselling author Simone van der Vlugt conjures up a hair-raising portrait of our time’
- Jury report of De Gouden Strop Prize
‘Blue Water reads like a nightmare from which it is difficult to wake. Simone van der Vlugt builds up the tension brilliantly in this very topical story.’ Veronic Magazine, ****
Sales
Ambo Anthos (original publisher) NL
Diana Verlag/Heyne Germany
THE REUNION (DE REÜNIE)
SHORTLISTED FOR THE NS PUBLIEKSPRIJS 2005
BEST DEBUT THRILLER, CRIMEZONE 2004
When Isabel disappeared, Sabine was fifteen, isolated at school and tormented by her former friend. She remembers nothing from that hot May day. Nine years later, unbidden memories are returning to Sabine. What if she saw something the day of Isabel’s disappearance? What if she could put a name to the shadowy figure in her dreams? And what if her knowledge was dangerous? A hugely exciting literary thriller, presenting intriguing themes, such as the suppression of traumatic events, the competition between teenagers, and also between colleagues, love, and above all friendship.
‘Hard to put down. Thrilling.’ Cosmopolitan
‘In just two pages the beautiful prologue immediately produces a feeling of tension. Tension that keeps you entangled throughout the story and ensures that you read The Reunion in one sitting.’ Crimezone.nl
‘A thriller that, without physical violence or big armoury, still generates suspense which is maintained right until the end.’ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
‘This lightly and sweetly narrated psycho-thriller develops an extraordinary maelstrom.’ Spiegel
‘Highly recommended to all fans of crime fiction who have strong nerves.’ Glamour
'A gripping psychological thriller which breathes new life into that old cliche "unputdownable"' Waterstone's Books Quarterly
Sales
Ambo Anthos (original publisher) NL
Diana Verlag Germany
Text Australia
Presses de la Cite France
Kowalski Editore Italy
Seix Barral/Planeta World Spanish
Harper Press UK
Muza Poland
Record Brazil
Ripol Classics Russia
New World Press China (Simplified Character)
Athena Press Taiwan (Traditional Character)
Material: Finished copies of Dutch (336 pp), English, Italian, German.
Simone van der Vlugt's second novel, published in October 2005, tells the story of Marjolein a passionate, committed teacher in a black secondary school in Rotterdam. She is proud of her great contact with the kids but one day she comes face to face with another side of the teaching. She is threatened by one of her students during a class and from that moment on her life changes completely and she finds herself caught between loyalty to her school and fear of the threats that just don’t stop. Who has it in for her and just how far are they prepared to go? Another tense thriller, written with great wit and pace about how ordinary everyday life can suddenly change into hell. Over 100,000 copies sold.
‘This is the best psychological suspense story I have read in a long time - utterly believable and totally riveting.’ Daily Mail
‘There is a lot more going on under the surface than the reader is being told, and the author does not put a foot wrong in the difficult task of making the narrators seem honest while at the same time conveying more than they are willing to admit to themselves or to us. The novel is creepy, effective and highly readable’ Eurocrime
‘Van der Vlugt dreams up ingenious plots that keep you on the edge of your seat.' Parool
‘Gripping from the very first page, the recognisable anxieties make it all the more gruesome and it's surprising to the very end. We have our own Nicci French' **** Veronica Magazine
Ambo Anthos (original publisher) NL
Diana Verlag/Heyne Germany
Text Australia
Harper Press UK
Kowalski Italy
Material: Finished copies of Dutch (340pp) & German editions, complete English translation.