Francesca was widowed a year ago. Since then she has focused on her children, trying to soothe their grief as well as her own. Her husband and father never quite saw eye to eye but no one could have cared more for her in the past year than her close-knit family. Finally, she feels she might be ready to move on with life. Until she is contacted out of the blue by someone who says he must get information to her. That her husband’s death wasn’t what it seemed. And that her family know more than they say.. Who can Francesca trust? And what will happen to her if she puts her faith in the wrong person?

A tensely dramatic tale, highlighting secrets, lies, and trust. A year after her husband was murdered in an unprovoked attack, Fran is told her family may actually know something about his death. We are introduced to Fran’s family members in the first chapter, and then the sledgehammer hits, can Fran trust her family? Fran can on occasion cause frustration as she makes a number of ill advised decisions, however this is balanced by her determination and integrity. Sophie McKenzie allows three characters direct access to the page, diverting thoughts and creating additional tension. ‘The Black Sheep’ allows suspicion to rise and fall, as the suspense increases, the ending has some surprises in store, creating a captivating and thrilling tale.