From her earliest childhood Maya can remember being at odds with her mother and brother. Only her father seemed to love her, but he disappeared. Nicknamed 'Elephant', life for Maya is embattled until she meets beautiful, sophisticated Cora. These two form an intense relationship based on a conviction that they are somehow separate from the rest of society and its petty rules. They dabble in crime and lead fantasy lives, but reality creeps in and explodes their illusions. Grown up and seemingly apart, Maya is trapped in a conventional marriage, while Cora is living a luxurious life in Italy with a sugar daddy. But they join forces again, driven together by their refusal to conform to anything but their own desires. Inevitably other people get in the way, and naturally the only solution is murder... Beautifully written, witty and original, 'Head Count' is the new bestselling novel from one of Europe's hottest crime writers. 'A brilliant, quirky book by an author whose name has been coupled with Patricia Highsmith but who has a voice all of her own...This outstanding book must be read' JAMES MELVILLE, 'Ham & High' (of 'Hell Hath No Fury') 'Ingrid Noll has created an appallingly quirky character with whom you can - almost - sympathize' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (of 'Hell Hath No Fury')