The Rayburn Affair: A suspenseful and seductive campus novel exploring ambition, desire and power dynamics

Art, ambition and desire collide when a struggling academic becomes entangled in the life and marriage of her literary idol.

By day, Dr Ruth Morgan lectures on 'AI: the new frontier of storytelling' at East Toronto University. By night, she toils away at a collection of short stories, fantasising about a literary career to rival that of the iconic Shelby Rayburn, internationally renowned and widely hailed as the voice of Ruth's generation of women.

When Shelby and her husband, Oscar, make an appearance at an annual faculty party, Ruth can't believe her luck. The trio immediately hit it off, and an intoxicating intimacy develops between them, underwritten by a simmering sexual tension.

Everything changes when Shelby makes Ruth an offer she can't refuse - one that she can't tell anyone about, including Oscar. As boundaries blur and secret alliances form, the dynamic becomes riddled with distrust and threatens to implode. Ruth and Shelby need each other, but each has their own agenda when it comes to friendship, love and literary stardom.

Deepening her exploration of female friendships, art and fame, award-winning author Laurie Petrou returns with a suspenseful campus novel examining what it means to be a creator in an age where notions of authorship, relationships and notoriety have become dangerously undefinable. Perfect for readers who enjoyed The Rachel Incident, Luster or Conversations with Friends, as well as fans of Jodi Picoult.

'Dark, fascinating, and utterly fearless, The Rayburn Affair reminded me of Julia May Jonas's Vladimir in the best possible way... I was unsettled, enthralled and completely transfixed. Petrou writes with razor-sharp insight and lyrical power, marking her as one of our most daring contemporary voices' - Marissa Stapley, New York Times bestselling author of Lucky

'An exceptionally evocative and seductive story about the dangerous allure of intimate connection and slippery security of power... Raw, real and riveting, The Rayburn Affair should be on everyone's must-read list' - Samantha M Bailey, internationally bestselling author of Hello, Juliet

'A dark, sexy tale of infatuation, envy and creative life set within the cloistered walls of an elite university. The Rayburn Affair has richly drawn characters, simmering tension and a perfect denouement' - Robyn Harding, internationally bestselling author of Strangers in the Villa

This novel contains references to sexual harassment.

© 2026 Verve Books (E-bog): 9780857309457

Udgivelsesdato

E-bog: 13. august 2026