Words Fail Me

Frances McKendrick

A therapist’s job is to listen, not to get involved. Unless…

‘A dark and startling tale of righteous vengeance’ Val McDermid

‘Complex, timely and full of compassion’ Ian Rankin

When Jane – smart, funny, fortyish – says she’s a school counsellor, people assume it’s all about exam stress. If only.

Her teenage clients include Vaishali, who hates the perfect curves that draw the attention of adult men; Fraser, who cares devotedly for his mother but hurts his girlfriend by confusing real life with porn; and George, a trans boy who suffers from acute anxiety.

Harbouring terrible secrets from her own youth, Jane struggles to contain the anger these stories arouse in her. It’s only when she starts counselling her colleague Kass, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse whose trauma is resurfacing, that her thoughts turn to revenge…

Moving, entertaining and revelatory, Words Fail Me not only shines a light on adolescent agonies, it’s also a gripping page-turner with a compelling mystery at its core – and a hair-raising climax.

‘A startling read that unfurls from a therapist’s casebook into a dark tale of righteous vengeance’ Val McDermid

‘Fascinating, complex and sometimes controversial – timely, relevant and filled with compassion’ Ian Rankin

‘Unusual, realistic and very moving, this fluently written novel deals with painful issues that need to be more widely discussed’ Literary Review

‘What a remarkable book. Beautifully written, full of insight, compassion, wisdom and righteous anger’ Marisa Haetzman

‘There is so much lived experience at the heart of the book’ Len Pennie, BBC Radio Scotland

‘Frances McKendrick’s fiction debut could not be more timely’ Sunday Post

‘A electrifying tale of revenge and a warning of the damage wrought by the internet’ Saga Magazine

‘A compassionate read that raises questions on revenge, justice and modern society’ The Sun

Paperback: 352pp

Published: Lightning (April 2025)

ISBN: 9781785634178