The Innocent Party by Celia Dale

She was happy, safe in the joy of being now the only one for Dad, absorbed in caring for him.

Twelve-year-old Linda Dalton lives in a cramped council high-rise with her testy mum, Vera, and affable dad, Denny. She is besotted with her father, who in her eyes can do no wrong. Everyone else pales in comparison, especially Vera.

When cracks begin to show in Denny and Vera’s marriage, Linda is exposed to an adult world of desire, deception and death that, thanks to her endless hours in front of the TV, she thinks she understands. Terrified of losing her father’s attention and affection, she weaves a web of chaos and confusion to keep him by her side.

Celia Dale’s darkest novel begs the question: is there ever such thing as an innocent party?

‘Chilling and shocking.’  Daily Mail 

‘One of Dale’s darkest and most unsettling novels . . . masterfully drawn.’ CRACK magazine

Format:Paperback / softback 272 pages
Publisher:Daunt Books
Imprint:Daunt Books
ISBN:9781917092784
Published:24 Sep 2026
Classifications:Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945)