Crescendo by Jane Healey

A taut, sultry novel about rivalry, obsession and how far we are willing to go to get what we truly desire, set against the glittering backdrop of 1950s Paris

It’s the summer of 1957 and Max, a piano prodigy, is on a sold-out concert tour.

His beautiful twin sister, Natasha, serves as his manager and minder. But despite Natasha’s careful planning, he begins, for the first time in his career, to make mistakes on stage. Upending his schedule to seek a cure in Paris, Max sets up the pair in the sprawling mansion of a handsome and wealthy count. But Henri is more than just a patron of the arts; he has also been – unknown to Max – Natasha’s lover.

Freed from the familiar dynamic of manager and talent, Natasha’s simmering resentment and Max’s deep insecurity turn into a rivalry, as the two vie for Henri’s attention. While Henri woos Natasha in galleries and cafes during the day, it is Max’s playing that draws him from bed each night.

As the twins compete, the fractures in their already vulnerable relationship start to show, with devastating consequences for both.

About the Author: Jane Healey has a BA (Hons) from Warwick University, an MSc in Literature & Modernity from The University of Edinburgh, and studied on the MFA Fiction course at CUNY Brooklyn College. She has been shortlisted for the Costa Short Story Award, the Bristol Short Story Prize and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. She is the author of the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award winner The Animals at Lockwood Manor and The Ophelia Girls.

04 Jun 2026
 

Crescendo by Jane Healey ISBN 9781787305588