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Michael Wood

Michael Wood is a crime writer based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, which is the setting for his thriller series featuring DCI Matilda Darke. He spends his days writing and researching new and inventive ways of killing people off for future DCI Darke novels as well as other projects he has up his sleeve.

When he’s not writing, Michael is usually moaning about having little sleep and talking about his favourite biscuit on social media. He’s a massive fan of reading crime fiction as he likes to keep an eye on the competition and wondering if he can steal any of their ideas, give the characters a Sheffield accent, and pass them off as his own original creation.

You can find Michael on Facebook and Twitter should you wish to follow his ramblings.

Genres: Mystery

New and upcoming books

March 2026

Evil in the Family
(Dr Olivia Winter, book 3)

October 2026

First One to Die
(DCI Matilda Darke, book 14)

Series

DCI Matilda Darke
   0.5. The Fallen (2016)
   1. For Reasons Unknown (2015)
   2. Outside Looking In (2016)
   3. A Room Full of Killers (2017)
   4. The Hangman's Hold (2018)
   4.5. Victim of Innocence (2019)
   5. The Murder House (2020)
   6. Stolen Children (2020)
   7. Time Is Running Out (2021)
   8. Survivor's Guilt (2021)
   9. The Lost Children (2022)
   10. Silent Victim (2022)
   Making of a Murderer (2023)
   11. Below Ground (2023)
   12. Last One Left Alive (2024)
   13. Worse Than Murder (2025)
   14. First One to Die (2026)

Dr Olivia Winter
   1. The Mind of a Murderer (2024)
   2. The Devil's Code (2025)
   3. Evil in the Family (2026)

Novels

   Vengeance Is Mine (2022)
   Chapter One (2023)
   The Seventh Victim (2023)
   Maybe Tomorrow (2024)

Books containing stories by Michael Wood

First Light (2022)
A Celebration of Alan Garner
edited by
Erica Wagner

Michael Wood recommends

The Opposite of Murder (2026)
Sophie Hannah
"Original and thrilling. Sophie Hannah is a genuine storyteller. The definition of unputdownable."

The Lake (2025)
Catherine Cooper
"An addictive and haunting thriller perfect for the long winter evenings."

The School Gates (2025)
A A Chaudhuri
"Compelling and addictive with an unforgettable and gut-wrenching finale."

The Serial Killer's Party (2025)
Amy Cunningham
"Dark, clever, and twisted, the tension is off the scale. The definition of a one-sitting read."

The Lollipop Man (2025)
(Yorkshire Murders , book 1)
Daniel Sellers
"Compelling and dark. A claustrophobic thriller with heart and depth."

Notes on a Murder (2023)
B P Walter
"A one-sitting read. Captivating from page one and refuses to let go. Brilliant."

Dead Man Walking (2023)
(DS Rick Turner, book 1)
M K Murphy
"An unstoppable and addictive thriller. Clear your diary, you'll want to read this in one sitting."

The Birthday Girl (2023)
(Mallory Dawson, book 1)
Sarah Ward
"A pitch-perfect start to a new thriller series."

The Hiding Place (2022)
Simon Lelic
"I finished reading The Hiding Place by Simon Lelic yesterday. It opens with a chilling first page and the tone is set for a dark and disturbing thriller right up to the heart-stopping finale. A must read."

Right to Kill (2021)
(Joe Romano, book 1)
John Barlow
"The twisted big brother to Happy Valley."

Red Corona (2020)
(Richard Knox, book 1)
Tim Glister
"An engrossing and original spy thriller. Glister writes with confidence and excitement. A star of the espionage genre is born."

The House Guest (2020)
Mark Edwards
"This is a true roller coaster of a thriller. Mark Edwards is a master of the page turner."

Are You Afraid of the Dark? (2019)
Seth C Adams
"Dark, edgy, fast-paced and with echoes of Stand By Me, IT and Fargo, this chilling debut thriller will stay with you long after the final page."

Call Me Star Girl (2019)
Louise Beech
"Beech has used her unique flair and constructed a crime fiction story that will have you frantically turning the pages until you get to the end."

Good Samaritans (2018)
(Detective Sergeant Pace, book 1)
Will Carver
"Good Samaritans is dark, edgy, disturbing, shocking and sexy. It’s also highly original and one of the best thrillers of the year. Cancel all plans when you start this book and warn those around you; any interruptions may cause them harm. You need to read this book."

Before Her Eyes (2018)
Jack Jordan
"An original, pacy and claustrophobic thriller."

Perfect Dead (2018)
(DI Frank Farrell, book 2)
Jackie Baldwin
"A pacy and dark police procedural with an original protagonist. DI Farrell is a character to cherish and Jackie Baldwin is a writer to watch out for. She’s going to be huge."

Sleeper 13 (2018)
(Sleeper 13, book 1)
Rob Sinclair
"An original action-packed international thriller with tension and danger on every page. Rob Sinclair is a writer of immense power. This face-paced spy thriller will elevate him to the top of his field."

Ice Lake (2017)
(Harry Cull, book 1)
John A Lenahan
"An assured and confident debut. Harry Cull is a unique and likeable creation. Fans of James Carol's Jefferson Winter series are going to love this."

Song of the Dead (2016)
(DI Ben Westphall, book 1)
Douglas Lindsay
"A darkly atmospheric thriller with a labyrinthine plot with more twists than a Grand Prix track."

The Follow (2012)
(PC Gareth Bell, book 1)
Paul Grzegorzek
"Peter James meets Luke Delaney in a blistering, heart-stopping novel. A genuine snapshot of policing in twenty-first century Britain. Dark, shocking, pacy, and utterly brilliant."

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