The Birthday Girl: The gripping new psychological thriller full of shocking twists and lies

‘I’m a bit nervous now,’ I say with a laugh. ‘I’m going to be on edge the whole day, waiting for something to turn up.’

I get up and make my way to the bathroom. As I stand under the shower, I let my mind drift to the game and the clues so far. Something is nagging at the back of my mind and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Something to do with the wedding ring.

It isn’t until I have finished showering and am brushing my teeth that it suddenly comes to me.

My character card, Diana, Princess of Wales, the wedding ring and the out-of-place photograph of Diana and Charles must all be connected. My card said I was an adulteress. The wedding ring signifies the marriage, the photograph is the out-of-place thing in the house.

I spit the toothpaste down the sink and rinse my mouth while musing over the US dollar bill Andrea has been left. Obviously something to do with money. I think back to yesterday where we discovered that Andrea’s character had committed a crime but not a violent one. Was bank robbing a non-violent crime? Was she a famous bank robber? Bonnie and Clyde come to mind straight away. I’ll have to look at my notebook to check. Then I will look around the house for another clue.

I can’t help grinning to myself. I quite like this game now. Of course, I won’t be able to tell Andrea. No. I’ll have to keep this to myself.

Ten minutes later, I’m downstairs with the others, tucking into a cooked breakfast Joanne has been kind enough to prepare. ‘This is really good of you,’ I say, trying to get the new day off to a fresh start. ‘I wouldn’t normally eat this at home, but somehow it’s different when I’m away. I can always manage a full English.’

‘I’m exactly the same,’ says Zoe.

‘We need to have our energy levels high for today’s hike,’ says Joanne.

‘Notice she didn’t say walk,’ says Andrea, raising an eyebrow. ‘The word hike is slightly unsettling me.’

‘You’ll love it,’ says Joanne. ‘It really is a beautiful walk, and the waterfall and vantage point at the end is well worth the effort. I’ve prepared a packed lunch for each of us. If you can all carry your own, that will save one of us carrying too much.’

‘Before we head off, I have something to tell you,’ says Andrea. She puts her knife and fork together, pushing the plate away. She leans back so she can get her hand in the front pocket of her trousers and produces the money she’d found the night before. She puts it on the table.

‘What’s that?’ says Zoe, picking up the note.

‘That was in my washbag last night.’ Andrea looks over at Joanne.

‘Don’t look at me,’ says our hostess.

‘Too late,’ I say with a laugh. ‘You most definitely got the look.’

‘Anyway, as I say, it was in my washbag. I definitely didn’t bring it with me, so I can only assume it’s part of the game,’ says Andrea.

‘What does it mean?’ asks Zoe, inspecting both sides of the note.

‘We haven’t worked that bit out yet,’ says Andrea. ‘Feel free to share any ideas.’

Zoe frowns. ‘Sorry, I don’t have any. I don’t think I’m going to win this game. I have no idea what’s going on.’

‘All will become clear,’ says Joanne. ‘Keep playing.’

‘Can we ask our next three questions?’ I ask. ‘That will give me something to think about today.’

Ten minutes and nine questions later, we can add some more details to our notebooks.

‘To summarise,’ I say. ‘Zoe, we now know these things about your criminal activities. You acted alone. You went to prison but you are now out. You were in the newspapers. It was to do with a bank and it was in the last twenty years.’

‘Aha, I think I know who you might be,’ says Andrea, a satisfied look on her face. ‘All I need now is to find a clue around this place.’

‘Remember, don’t say anything until tomorrow evening,’ says Joanne.

Andrea mimes zipping her mouth closed and sits back with folded arms.

‘OK, Miss Clever-Clogs,’ says Zoe. ‘Let’s ask Carys her questions. I’ll go first.’

‘Fire away,’ I say.

Five minutes later, Zoe is studying her notebook. ‘This is hard. I can’t think who you might be. You were in the public eye. You were very popular. You were not a TV celebrity. You were not a singer. You married someone famous. Wait a minute … I think I know who you are. Damn it, I want to ask another question but I can’t.’

‘What about you Andrea? You any the wiser?’ I ask.

‘Possibly.’ Andrea taps her notebook with her pencil.

‘We need to get off on our walk soon. Are you going to ask Andrea any questions?’ says Joanne.

‘I’ll ask first,’ says Zoe. ‘Andrea, we know from yesterday you are a criminal, so my first question today is, are you a murderer?’

Andrea nods. ‘Yes.’

‘Question two. Were you caught for your crime?’

‘She must have been,’ I say. ‘We wouldn’t know about it otherwise.’

‘But you’ve asked the question and can’t change your mind now,’ says Andrea. ‘And the answer is yes.’

‘Knickers,’ huffs Zoe. ‘I didn’t think of that. OK, last question from me. Did you hang for your crime?’

A stilled silence swamps the room. Joanne throws me a sideways look and then exchanges one with Andrea. Of all the questions Zoe could have asked, she had to mention hanging. It seems like minutes but in fact it is only a couple of seconds. I realise everyone is waiting for my reaction. I swallow, fake a smile and urge Andrea to answer the question.

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