The Startup Affair

“A slow-burn, that takes a while to catch fire, but when it does you won't be able to put it down. A clever mix of infidelity, blackmail and startup culture commentary. Not your typical romantic suspense, but a reworking of a genre that will certainly benefit from a fresh voice on the scene. Sandra Smith is an original.” - Good Books Today

When unhappily married thirty-something, Cassie Jones, lands a new job as a marketing manager for an advertising-technology startup, she finally feels she may have a purpose in life beyond looking after her young son, and volatile, ex-Navy husband. But as soon as she meets the company’s enigmatic cofounder and chief engineer, Adam Crossley, Cassie feels powerfully drawn to him, despite the fact he is also married with children.

Cassie is old and wise enough to know that embarking on an affair, with anyone, let alone the cofounder of her new company is a bad idea. But as time goes on, the pair can’t control their feelings for one another, and they fall headlong into an illicit relationship, bringing about potentially devastating repercussions for everyone involved.

Things come to head when a researcher for News Group, a media conglomerate, catches wind of the affair after an illegal sting operation, and embarks on a malicious blackmail attempt. The lovers soon realise they have more at stake than just their marriages, as they become pawns caught in the crossfire of a hostile takeover bid from the company’s largest competitor.

Cassie is determined not to let anyone jeopardise the company’s destiny, after seeing how much of Adam’s blood, sweat and tears have been poured into building its technology, over the last four years. Adam is determined to protect his newfound love at all costs.

Will a drastic plan of action be enough to untangle the lovers from the toxic web of blackmail, intrigue, and cold-blooded murder?

Will they pull off an elaborate coup, in order to keep the company - and their relationship - alive?

Or will they end up in prison for the rest of their lives, sorry that they had ever met each other?

Read the jaw-dropping debut from new voice in the romantic suspense genre, Sandra Smith, to find out what fate has in store for Cassie and Adam.

Inspired by authors Paula Hawkins, Harriet Lane, and Gillian Flynn.