Somebody is lying.

After 18-year-old Ellie Canning is found shivering and barely conscious on a country road, her bizarre story of kidnap and escape enthralls the nation. Who would do such a thing? And why?

Local drama teacher Suzannah Wells, once a minor celebrity, is new to town. Suddenly, she's in the spotlight again, accused of being the monster who drugged and bound a teenager in her basement. As stories about her past emerge, even those closest to her begin to doubt her innocence.

And Ellie? The media can't get enough of her. She's a girl-power icon, a social-media star. But is she telling the truth?

A powerful exploration of the fragility of trust and the loss of innocence, from the author of The Golden Child and The Mistake.

Praise

"James brilliantly takes this historical true crime and updates it to the internet age." (Cameron Woodhead, Sydney Morning Herald)

"This satisfying novel perfectly captures our current world, saturated by social media, obsessed by beautiful victims and easily identified villains, and quick to judge and condemn.... This is a gripping novel with plenty of twists, underpinned by acute observations about society." (Good Reading Magazine)

"The Accusation will grip you from page one.... Intelligent, suspenseful, and masterfully paced, with a killer twist in the tail, The Accusation is domestic noir at its best, perfect for fans of Adele Parks, Caroline Overington and Liane Moriarty." (Better Reading)

"The Accusation is Australian crime writing at its best, showcasing the great talent of Australian women writers out there today. It deserves all the hype! A brilliant book, very highly recommended." (But Books are Better blog)

"The way the book was structured really gave it an inventive feel.... Highly recommended." (Katrina Ferguson and Kathryn Ryan, Radio New Zealand)