Sarah Pearse lives by the sea in South Devon with her husband and two daughters. She studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick and worked in Brand PR for a variety of household brands. After moving to Switzerland in her twenties, she spent every spare moment exploring the mountains in the Swiss Alpine town of Crans Montana, the dramatic setting that inspired her novel. Sarah has always been drawn to the dark and creepy - remote spaces and abandoned places - so when she read an article in a local Swiss magazine about the history of sanatoriums in the area, she knew she'd found the spark of the idea for her debut novel, The Sanatorium. Her short fiction has been published in a wide variety of magazines and has been shortlisted for several prizes.
The Briars (2026) Sarah Crouch "One of my favourite reads of the year, The Briars is a show stopping, accomplished mystery that both captivated and intrigued me in equal measure - I couldn't put it down. From the very first page, Sarah Crouch draws you into the beautifully realised setting of Lake Lumin in the Pacific Northwest with lush, lyrical descriptions that left me both longing to visit and deeply chilled. With nuanced, likeable characters, Crouch weaves a complex plot and tightens the tension until breaking point as murder haunts the lake and the past returns to shadow the present. A complex, thrilling page turner that will stay with you long after you finish reading."
The Retirement Plan (2025) Sue Hincenbergs "This funny, twisty read about three girlfriends who turn to murder (husbands watch out!) had me turning the pages late into the night. Razor-sharp and deviously dark!"
Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 (2025) Lisa Unger "Lisa Unger just gets better and better! In Close Your Eyes and Count to 10, we see her masterful hand at work as she weaves a compulsively readable story packed full of tension from the very first page. As an extreme game of hide and seek quickly turned from stunt to survival, I held my breath as the plot twisted and turned to its dramatic conclusion. Pacy and gripping, I couldn't read fast enough. Take it on holiday and savor every deliciously dark page."
The Inheritance (2025) Trisha Sakhlecha "Deliciously dark with chilling characters and a brilliant setting. This is a pacy, page-turning thriller."
This Motherless Land (2024) Nikki May "Fresh and fearless, This Motherless Land kept me furiously turning the pages late into the night. This ambitious, richly textured novel effortlessly explores family, culture, class and love, and cements May's position as a bold and powerful new voice. Her prose is as vibrant as her plotting - superb."
Our Holiday (2024) Louise Candlish "A sharp, brilliantly observed novel that had me gasping at every twist and turn but also smiling at the intuitive skewering of the second home stereotypes. I loved every gripping page."
The Astrology House (2024) Carinn Jade "I loved this thriller from the first page to the last. Carinn Jade's debut THE ASTROLOGY HOUSE has a unique premise that kept me gripped at every turn. Whether you are an astrology newbie like me or are already au fait with the idea, you can't help but be drawn into this complex cast of characters and the secrets and lies that bind them together. Impossible to predict and impossible to put down, the layered plot and twists and turns made me gasp out loud on several occasions. And yes, I would go on an astrological retreat, despite the sinister happenings in this book!"
Trust Her (2024) Flynn Berry "Compulsively readable and beautifully written, Trust Her is another dazzling novel from Flynn Berry. Following Northern Irish sisters Tessa and Marion Daly as their past catches up with them, the story relentlessly ratchets up the tension, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Berry effortlessly combines suspense with prose packed full of emotional depth in a human-centered story that resonates long after you finish reading."
The Midnight Hour (2024) Eve Chase "I loved The Midnight Hour, a gripping, beautifully written novel that plunges you into the lives of siblings, Maggie and Kit, and the mysterious past that looks like it's about to catch up with them. Eve Chase skilfully weaves together two time periods, evoking London and Paris and the world of antiques with such a depth of detail that I felt I was walking the streets alongside the characters. As the tension builds and the secrets they've been hiding start to come to light, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and felt every bit of Maggie and Kit's peril. A summer must-read."
Will Dean "I was utterly gripped by THE CHAMBER. This unbearably tense thriller conjured a claustrophobic atmosphere that had me reaching for the escape hatch even in the open spaces of Devon. Well-drawn characters and excellent prose. A superb summer read."
The Shell House Detectives (2023) (Shell House Detectives Mystery, book 1) Emylia Hall "This beautifully written cosy coastal mystery packs a real punch! With wonderfully atmospheric prose and twists and turns aplenty, the plot will have you riding a wave of suspense long after you've turned the final page. If you love Cornwall, you will adore this book."
A Game of Lies (2023) (DC Morgan, book 2) Clare Mackintosh "This brilliantly plotted whodunnit kept me guessing from the first page to the last. A Game of Lies is expertly paced and the writing flawless. Detective Ffion Morgan is a breath of fresh air - clever, witty and passionate about her job and a joy to spend time with! The very definition of a page turner."
Everyone Here is Lying (2023) Shari Lapena "Gripping, clever, and tightly plotted, Everyone Here Is Lying showcases Shari Lapena at her absolute best. I was utterly transfixed. A must-read."
The Whispers (2023) Ashley Audrain "A chilling story and a beautifully observed exploration of what it means to be a woman, highlighting the sacrifices involved and the often frightening choices that have to be made. The knowledge that something awful is looming lends the narrative a compelling sense of unease that builds to a thickening dread as Audrain ratchets up the tension. A quietly revelatory and unnerving novel that works on so many levels - I couldn't put it down."
The Running Club (2023) Ali Lowe "A sharp, clever and compelling read about family, friends and the secrets and lies that bind them together . . . I couldn't stop turning the pages and read it in just two days! Ali's characterisation is always pitch-perfect leaving me both surprised and horrified by the dark side lurking beneath the glamourous and wealthy facades of her protagonists. The Running Club is no exception - nearly everyone in Esperance is hiding something, so I'd advise keeping your running spikes at home . . ."
The Cloisters (2022) Katy Hays "A story of academic obsession, Renaissance magic, and the ruthless pursuit of power. Captivating in every sense of the word."
The Toll House (2022) Carly Reagon "If you like a good ghost story put this chilling thriller to the very top of your reading list."
Run Time (2022) Catherine Ryan Howard "Catherine Ryan Howard is a master thriller writer and Run Time is up there with the best, as the movie set of nightmares she so evocatively conjures starts to turn on its lead actress. The twisty, ingenious plotting and atmospheric location make for a deeply chilling and unputdownable read. I didn't want it to end!"
The Ruins (2022) Phoebe Wynne "I was completely transported by The Ruins. Phoebe Wynne has evocatively rendered a beautiful, doomed French chateau while creating immersive, almost dream-like atmospherics. I loved this novel."
Complicit (2022) Winnie M Li "As soon as I read the first few pages of COMPLICIT I knew it was going to be a compulsive read - Winnie M Li's powerful and beautiful writing immediately immersed me and kept me furiously turning the pages. Through her assured storytelling Winnie draws you into the protagonist's world on every level - from the superficial to the emotional - to paint a devastating and timely portrait of the abuse of power within a highly charged and often frightening workplace. I loved it."
Allie Reynolds "Nail-bitingly tense...leaves you gasping for breath."
The Last to Disappear (2022) Jo Spain "This brilliant book captured me from the first page and didn't let go! Jo Spain's beautifully atmospheric prose transports you to the beautiful, frozen landscape of Finland, immersing you in a dark and terrifying mystery that kept me constantly guessing. Agatha Koskinen, the detective, is utterly compelling as a character and I relished following her throughout the twists and turns of the investigation. A fantastic, page-turning read. I absolutely loved it!"
The Hiding Place (2022) Simon Lelic "This book delivers on its premise and then some! This novel about a creepy school and a deadly game gone wrong is both compelling and beautifully written and infused with a simmering tension - I couldn't stop turning the pages!"
Do No Harm (2022) Jack Jordan "When you pick up a book to read the first page and then can't put it down . . ."
Breathless (2022) Amy McCulloch "If you're looking for a book to thrill and transport you, then Breathless is the read for you! Set high in the chilling Death Zone, this thriller had me on the edge of my seat. I loved being immersed in the competitive, high-stakes world of alpine climbing, and Amy brilliantly evokes how risky this setting is, a setting that can only get deadlier with a murderer on the mountain . . . A must-read for 2022."
She and I (2022) Hannah King "Not only beautifully written but gripping and full of soul."
The Maid (2022) (Molly the Maid Mystery , book 1) Nita Prose "An eccentric and unforgettable sleuth who captivated me and kept me furiously turning the pages."
Stepping Up (2021) Sarah Turner "What a fantastic read - it had me in tears! This book grabbed me by the heartstrings and didn't let go! It has it all - warmth, humour and brilliant observations on love, life and loss. An emotional rollercoaster of a read and one that is well worth taking!"
Five Minds (2021) Guy Morpuss "My mind is officially blown! This clever, twisty debut really delivers. Gripping, well-written and intriguing on every level."
Would I Lie to You? (2021) Aliya Ali-Afzal "I just fell into this and couldn’t stop... the writing is so fresh and light; funny in places, but moving in others... I just can’t believe it’s a debut! Ali-Afzal writes brilliantly and Faiza is so warm and relatable as a protagonist that you feel every one of her emotional ups and downs alongside her as you turn the page. The story is sharp and witty and so well-paced that I devoured this book in only two days. A total page-turner and one I’ll be recommending to everyone I know."
When They Find Her (2021) Lia Middleton "Brilliantly written ... I felt every single emotion and was immediately swept up into the story. I'll be recommending it to everyone I know."
Little Wishes (2020) Michelle Adams "Michelle's writing is so beautiful and so real - particularly the tender and moving scenes about Tom's illness which were so heartfelt and genuine. Witnessing Tom and Elisabeth's relationship develop and deepen beyond 'first love' was wonderful and I really felt like I knew the characters towards the end. It really gave me pause for thought about how important it is to relish every moment and not let any opportunities or burgeoning relationships pass you by. I will definitely be recommending the book to everyone I know!"
