Olivia's Dead

'I would be honouring a promise I made to Olivia before she died. To have an adventure and do something with my life before it was too late.'

Overcome with grief at the death of her friend Olivia, Alice escapes to Kenya. In the wilds of the Maasai Mara, she unexpectedly falls in love with charming safari company owner and rally driver Jamil. However, not everyone is happy with the liaison. Unaware her life is in danger Alice embarks on a passionate affair with Jamil who takes her on a magical tour across Kenya from the stunning Mara wildlife and mesmerising sunsets to the heart-stopping thrill of a rally in Tsavo. Finally they arrive in Watamu on the shores of the jewelled waters of the Indian Ocean. The action moves between Kenya, England and Zanzibar, with the enemy, like a cunning chess player, shadowing their every move. The suspense builds swiftly and, as their heady romance appears doomed, Alice and Jamil face the toughest challenge of all.

“Three years ago I nursed my dying friend in her last days. In the weeks before she died, she made me promise that I would follow my dreams because life is too fragile and unpredictable. I assured her I would do so. Her death had a profound effect on me and turned my world upside down. I spent some time on my own in Kenya. Every day I walked on the beach and allowed my mind to wander freely and create. Then one day I started to write, the book took shape and the words flowed. I had followed my dream,” says Madeleine, of her inspiration for the novel.