Sarah Ward is the author of four DC Childs novels, In Bitter Chill, A Deadly Thaw,A Patient Fury and The Shrouded Path set in the Derbyshire Peak District where she lives. On her website, Crimepieces (www.crimepieces.com), she reviews the best of current crime fiction published around the world. She is a judge for the Petrona Award for Scandinavian translated crime novels.
Estella's Revenge (2024) Barbara Havelocke "Meticulously researched and full of dark intrigue, I loved being transported into Estella's world. A page-turning delight."
The Grief House (2023) Rebecca Thorne "Dark and haunting, this is a book to be read at night with the curtains drawn. Beautifully written, I didn't want the story to end."
Dead Man Walking (2023) (DS Rick Turner, book 1) M K Murphy "Tension bristles on every page on this rollercoaster of a read. I couldn't put the book down."
The Straw Men (2023) (Simon Jardine Mystery, book 5) Tony R Cox "Cox always delivers well-executed thrillers-buckle up for the ride."
When The Lights Go Out (2022) Chris Curran "A wonderful, character-driven thriller where alliances and friendships are put to the test."
The Key in the Lock (2022) Beth Underdown "Fans of gothic are going to love this. Cornwall, class-ridden secrets and beautiful writing."
The Therapist (2021) Helene Flood "A sharply observed thriller with a plot packed full of psychological suspense. I couldn't put it down."
Body of Stars (2021) Laura Maylene Walter "Compelling, menacing and ultimately uplifting, I fell headlong into the world of Body of Stars."
The Fatal Isles (2021) (Doggerland Trilogy , book 1) Maria Adolfsson "Fatal Isles has everything I want from nordic noir - a spellbinding plot, atmospheric setting and a wonderfully flawed protagonist. I loved it."
(Teresa Battaglia, book 1) Ilaria Tuti "Tuti has managed the near-impossible in creating a genuinely unique character in Teresa Battaglia. I was rooting for her from the start as she expertly steers a creepy murder investigation in an atmospheric Alpine setting."
Blessed Be the Wicked (2018) (Abish Taylor Mystery, book 1) D A Bartley "Blessed be the Wicked is an insightful and compelling read."
It All Falls Down (2018) (Nora Watts, book 2) Sheena Kamal "A fresh and original character who grips the reader with her grit and courage. We're rooting for Nora Watts from the outset and I can't wait to read more of her story."
The Devil's Dice (2018) (DI Meg Dalton, book 1) Roz Watkins "The Devil's Dice encapsulates the dark heart of the Peaks and enthrals the reader with its clever and compelling plot."
This is How it Ends (2018) Eva Dolan "Bold and unusual, Eva Dolan's exquisite writing perfectly captures contemporary London in this cleverly plotted novel."
A Map of the Dark (2018) (Searchers , book 1) Karen Ellis "A Map of the Dark is a compelling and moving story of buried secrets and hidden demons."
The Echo Killing (2018) (Harper McClain, book 1) Christi Daugherty "The Echo Killing had me gripped from the start. Harper McClain ranks alongside the best investigative reporters in fiction. I loved her."
The Confession (2018) Jo Spain "Jo Spain is such a talent. The Confession had me in its thrall from the first page, revealing the dark side of the Celtic Tiger."
The Legacy (2017) (Freyja and Huldar, book 1) Yrsa Sigurðardóttir "The Legacy is the start of an exciting new direction for Yrsa Sigurdardottir. The horror of a decades-old family separation provides the catalyst for dark crimes and a complex investigation. The Children's House promises to be an outstanding series."
For Reasons Unknown (2015) (DCI Matilda Darke, book 1) Michael Wood "A beautifully written book with a dark heart and a secret that impacts on generations."
Blood Mist (2015) (Eve Clay, book 1) Mark Roberts "A high quality crime novel, well written with some very good twists in the plot ... I'm looking forward to reading more from this author and to further instalments in what promises to be an excellent series."
