Nothing Without Me

A Novel

By: Helen Monks Takhar

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton

The gripping tale of a film director with a shadowy past, her missing lead actress, and the disturbing cost of fame—from “addictive” (People) suspense writer Helen Monks Takhar

“A pulse-pounding roller coaster through the shadows of the silver screen.”—Jaclyn Goldis, author of The Chateau

Fame is a deadly game. . . .

April Eden is about to have the night of her life. After years struggling uphill as a female director, her debut movie The Vanished Woman is up for a major British film award, placing her firmly on Hollywood’s radar. Her leading lady, Essie Lay—a fragile but magnetic former TV host—is on the cusp of a stunning comeback after being canceled for a disturbing scandal.

When Essie messages April saying she can’t face the ceremony, April heads to Essie’s palatial London mansion, Lotus Lodge, to convince her to enjoy their big night together. But upon arriving, April is faced with tragedy: Essie’s body is floating in her swimming pool, all signs pointing to suicide. Panicked, April activates Essie’s team—her put-upon sister/manager, Janine, and her wily agent, Jonathan—expecting them to do damage control while she heads to the awards ceremony; she’s devastated yet determined to do what she can to protect Essie’s legacy.

But by the time April returns to Lotus Lodge to face the fallout, Essie’s body has vanished. Was Essie actually murdered? Is this an elaborate hoax or publicity stunt gone wrong? And why does April start receiving unsettling messages, trying to pin the blame on her?

Taut, twisty, and deliciously page-turning, Nothing Without Me examines the high price of female fame, how far some will go to climb the slippery ladder of celebrity, and the unbearable pressure of being the woman everyone wants to be.

Critic reviews

“[Nothing Without Me] shows the dark side of fame and the extra pressure that it places on females. . . . Thought-provoking and emotional . . . Takhar has provided a novel that everyone will be talking about.”—Mystery & Suspense

“Terrific . . . An absolute humdinger of a thriller!”—Gytha Lodge, author of A Killer in the Family

“Expertly plotted and pulsing with suspense, Nothing Without Me plunges readers into the cutthroat world of Hollywood, peeling back the veneer of celebrity and deftly exposing the dark side of fame and ruthless ambition. A twisty and timely read, it kept me guessing right up to the jaw-dropping end.”—Lindsay Cameron, author of No One Needs to Know

“A pulse-pounding roller coaster through the shadows of the silver screen, Nothing Without Me will leave you questioning the true nature of celebrity and the devastating sacrifices women are forced to make to stay in the spotlight’s glow. Helen Monks Takhar lays bare the dark side of Hollywood glitz and glamour in this chilling and intoxicating mystery.”—Jaclyn Goldis, author of The Chateau

“Monks Takhar explores the dark side of celebrity in this diabolically plotted and ferociously feminist psychological thriller. . . . Exquisitely rendered, realistically damaged characters help make the novel’s jaw-dropping twists feel earned. . . . Liane Moriarty fans, take note: This is a must-read.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)