Bainbridge was still working on "The Girl in the Polka Dot Dress" at the time of her death. The novel, which was based on a real-life journey Bainbridge made across America in 1968, is about the mystery girl reputed to have been involved in the assassination of Robert Kennedy. The novel, which was published in May 2011 by Little, Brown. was edited for publication by Brendan King, whose biography "Beryl Bainbridge: Love by All Sorts of Means" was published in September 2016.