The deliciously twisty A Shadow at the Door by Jo Dixon is this summer’s hottest page-turner

Remi Lucan survives a brutal attack and a marriage breakdown, but a series of ‘accidents’ make it clear someone is out to get her. This gripping novel is a holiday essential, read an extract.

Tasmanian author Jo Dixon has served up summer’s most delicious new thriller. Picture: Supplied

She thought she was safe, but someone wants her gone … former TV star Remi Lucan is visited by a face from her past in this edited extract from JO DIXON’s new novel, A Shadow at the Door.

Remi flinched when the knock finally came.

Smack.

Smack.

Yep. That had to be Simon. Only her ex-husband could rap an elegant brass knocker and make it sound both smug and demanding. Today she could not be fierce, today she would be sweet. Beg, if necessary, and persuade him to be reasonable. She stood and walked up the hallway, rearranging her face into what she hoped was an expression of nostalgic joy with a hint of excitement at seeing him after all this time.

‘Simon, thank you for coming,’ she said, after opening the door, cold air sliding into the house.

He looked good. Slim dark jeans and a tailored wool jacket. His thick hair longer, a little grey, swept back in that way some men did when they aged, proudly lauding it over their balding mates: No shaved head here, you poor suckers. He was handsome, sharply expensive and more than a bit overdone.

‘Hello, Remi.’ He beamed, his arms open, inviting her in for a hug, waiting for her to cover the distance between them.

The last time she’d seen Simon, they’d been on opposite sides of a gleaming conference table, lawyer on his side, none on hers. Eighteen months had passed since she’d left him and he’d still been touting his version of the truth: the divorce was her fault. Her desperate insecurities and her need for drama were to blame. He wouldn’t have strayed if she’d been a better wife. He held no grudge. The settlement offered was the best possible. They didn’t have the assets and cash she seemed to think. But he was a good guy. He wanted to help her. Here was an agreement that would let her keep the house. And because Simon was such a great guy, he’d not only let her buy him out, but he’d accept her money in instalments. With a reasonable interest rate, only slightly higher than the bank. Plus, here was a nice lump-sum settlement. If only he could do more, but this was his best offer. Remi, don’t fight this. Don’t make things worse. Don’t drag it out. Let us both move on. Sign here.

A Shadow At The Door will hit bookstores on January 3. Picture: Supplied

There had been only the one call since that day. The first New Year’s Eve after they had finalised the divorce. Boastful as always, Simon had wanted her to know that his life was amazing, but he still thought of her, and didn’t she regret leaving him and giving all this away? Remi had laughed, then cried a little, drunk her cheap bubbles and continued scribbling down her goals. She was alone in her old house with barely enough superficial interaction to keep her from becoming a shuffling, mumbling hermit. It wasn’t social or glamorous, but it was the life she had chosen. And still wanted.

Which meant hugging the bastard.

She let wistful longing flit across her face — enough to stroke his ego — and stepped into his embrace. When he finally let go, she let him inside and followed him through to the kitchen.

‘Babe, the place is looking great.’

Babe? Seriously? ‘Thank you. It’s been a long, hard slog. But worth it.’ If Remi could make him understand what the house meant to her, he surely wouldn’t kick her out.

‘I mean, look what you’ve done here.’ Simon turned to inspect the large open-plan space at the back of the house, his gaze passing over the dark cabinetry, feature light fittings, top-range appliances and sleek wood heater. He slid a hand over the white marble of the benchtops. ‘I can see where all my money has been spent. I think you might have been a bit loose with the budget.’ He rested against the edge of the bench, arms folded. ‘A few emotional decisions here, I reckon.’

And there it was. Build her up in one breath, knock her down in the next.

‘It wasn’t your money,’ she said evenly.

‘Really? That fat lump sum that poured into your account came from some other magic money fairy, did it?’ His wide smile was meant to make it a joke, a bit of banter, but she knew the snide intent was real.

She bit back a terse reply, tried to keep her voice neutral. ‘It was the agreed settlement. It wasn’t over the top.’ She hadn’t fought his offer, not wanting a drawn-out, pointscoring squabbling match.

Simon shook his head slowly and huffed an exaggerated sigh, as though being forced to explain a simple concept to a dimwitted customer. ‘A very generous payout. I’ve always looked after you, Remi. You know that half-mill was money I’d earned. It came from me.’

Sure. At the time of the divorce he had been earning a hefty salary, paid by his old man.

This is an edited extract from A Shadow At The Door by best-selling Australian author Jo Dixon. It will be published by HarperCollins on January 3, 2024.