Project brief: The author is known as a mystery writer, and her previous book covers were much more campy. The editor wanted the book cover to appeal to a young female audience but still look upmarket and sophisticated.

Approach: The story was about two teenage girls, set in 1980s suburbia during the summer. I had to get across some kind of normalcy with a hint of menace. I felt that a young girl in a flowery bikini diving into the murky depths of a pool was a fitting metaphor for this ethereal, dark mystery. Part of the title gets distorted once it hits the water, which mimics the distortion of reality in both girls’ lives. I wanted to add spot matte lamination to the part of the title above the water line, however the budget would not allow the extra special effect.

Effectiveness: Despite the absence of spot matte, the publisher, editor and author were very pleased with the cover. It remains attractive and inviting with a dark, moody atmosphere.

Just loved this one. The wraparound image and the type placement make this really stand out.