Fiona Barton has had a career marked by significant twists and turns. She has worked as a journalist in prominent roles, including as a senior writer at the Daily Mail, news editor at the Daily Telegraph, and chief reporter at The Mail on Sunday. Her exceptional work as a reporter earned her the Reporter of the Year award at the National Press Awards.

In a bold career move, she left journalism to volunteer in Sri Lanka. Since 2008, Barton has been dedicated to training and working with exiled and threatened journalists across the globe.

Throughout her career, a compelling story had been forming in her mind, inspired by her experiences as a national newspaper journalist covering notorious crimes and trials. She often pondered what the wives of the accused knew or chose to ignore.

This curiosity and fascination were liberated by her career change, allowing her to fully explore and develop these themes in her writing.