Lisa Ballantyne was born in Armadale, West Lothian, Scotland and studied English literature at University of St Andrews. She lived and worked in China for many years and started writing seriously while she was there. She now lives in Glasgow.
The Contest (2023) Karen Hamilton "Karen Hamilton takes suspense to new heights in this nailbiting thriller that had me hooked from the start. An original voice, characters to love and hate, and a strong sense of place, make this an engrossing read."
Tell Me What I Am (2023) Una Mannion "An engrossing, deftly-told story with an aching secret at its heart, this is a profoundly moving novel of family and women standing strong together."
Obsessed (2023) Liza North "Easy to get 'obsessed' with this book. Tautly plotted with memorable characters . . . a suspenseful read right up to its shockingly unexpected conclusion."
The Next to Die (2023) (Dylan Kasper, book 1) Elliot Sweeney "An addictive and emotional roller-coaster of a read. Fast-paced yet beautifully written, with quirky characters that draw you in, this is a outstanding first novel."
Double or Nothing (2022) (Double O, book 1) Kim Sherwood "A cleverly plotted and absorbing novel with a fantastic cast of fully rounded characters in this breathtaking new novel. I loved it."
The Local (2022) Joey Hartstone "A compelling and fast-moving novel dealing with the conflict between friendship, family loyalty and duty to the law. Hartstone kept me guessing right till the end."
The Beach House (2021) Beverley Jones "A tense, page-turning thriller where the past reaches across continents to haunt the present. A wonderful sense of place and a lead character, Grace, that immediately draws you into her world. This is a fast paced story that shocks and thrills."
The Hit List (2020) Holly Seddon "Holly Seddon's new novel is a compulsive read. Unsettling subject matter deftly handled, this book is ingeniously plotted and full of suspense."
The Poison Garden (2019) Alex Marwood "Highly imaginative, yet consistently believable, this wonderful dystopian novel is both terrifying and unsettling as if a harbinger for our times. A well written and thrilling read."
The Book Club (2019) C J Cooper "Intricately plotted, this gripping thriller is written with great style and has a host of wonderful characters to be loved and hated in equal measure."
Saskia Sarginson "A gripping and emotional story which, although set in a past era, has chilling implications for the present day. How It Ends is an engrossing read with endearing characters thrust into traumatic circumstances. It stayed with me long after the last page as its subject matter is unfortunately still very relevant."
The Real Michael Swann (2018) Bryan Reardon "The Real Michael Swann is a riveting read, pertinent and relevant to the times we now live in, with characters that keep the reader emotionally involved right up until its almost shocking ending. A highly recommended and insightful work of fiction."
Last Seen (2017) Lucy Clarke "Feel the sand beneath your feet in this fast-paced seaside story where tragic consequences unravel after a drowning at sea."
What She Knew (2015) (DI Jim Clemo, book 1) Gilly MacMillan "Tightly focused and fast-paced. You won't rest until you really know what happened."
The Misbegotten (2013) Katherine Webb "Another intricately constructed, beautifully written historical masterpiece."
