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The book that changed my summer

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Gytha Lodge on the inspiration behind her debut novel ‘She Lies in Wait’

Is she witness, victim or killer? A nail-biting thriller with twists you'll never see coming

Little Sister

Detective Jonah Sheens is enjoying a moment of peace and quiet, when a teenage girl wanders out of the wood. 
 She's striking, with flame-red hair and a pale complexion. 
 She's also covered in blood. 
 Jonah quickly discovers that Keely and her sister, Nina, disappeared from a children's home a week ago. Now, Keely's here. 
 She insists she's fine. It's Nina he needs to worry about. 
 Keely knows where her sister is - but before she tells, she wants Jonah's full attention. 
 Is she killer, witness, or victim? And will Jonah find out what Keely's hiding, in time to save Nina?

Is she the victim, or the killer? . . . THE GRIPPING NEW THRILLER FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER GYTHA LODGE 
 
'Addictive, fast-paced and so expertly plotted' CLAIRE DOUGLAS 
 
'Smart, moody, intense and tangled. I loved it' GILLIAN MCALLISTER 
________ 
 
Two sisters, Keely and Nina, disappear without a trace. 
 
Days later, Keely comes back, covered in blood. 
 
It's not her blood. 
 
Detective Jonah Sheens knows that she must know what happened to Nina. But before she tells him, Keely insists on telling their full story from the beginning. 
 
Is she a traumatised young woman, in need of help? 
 
Or is she playing a deadly game? 
 
Can Jonah find the truth - and the missing girl - before it's too late? . . . 
________ 
 
'Brilliantly sharp, and wonderfully paced, it is a page-turner not to be missed' L.V. Matthews, Richard and Judy bestselling author of The Twins 
 
'Perfectly paced, with twists and turns to keep you hooked' Amanda Jennings 
 
Praise for Gytha Lodge: 
 
'Gripped me from the first page and kept me turning the pages long into the night' Erin Kelly 
 
'Fast-paced but never rushed, with clues and twists to keep you absolutely hooked from the first page to the last' Jane Casey 
 
'Filled with twists and turns made to suck you in and prove once again that Gytha Lodge is a master of crime detective stories' 5**** Reader Review 
 
'A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud' VAL MCDERMID 
 
'Full of corkscrew twists and subtle turns' DAILY MAIL 
 
 'A dark, deep, terrific thriller' NICCI FRENCH

Addictive, fast-paced and so expertly plotted that when I finished I had to read the beginning again, in awe at the twists. I'm a huge fan of the Sheens series but this is my favourite yet. I loved it!

Smart, moody, intense and tangled. I loved it

Little Sister is a smart and devastatingly raw novel of revenge and manipulation. Brilliantly sharp, and wonderfully paced, it is a page-turner not to be missed

L.V. Matthews, Richard and Judy bestselling author of The Twins

From the pen of a skilled storyteller, this is perfectly paced, with twists and turns to keep you hooked, and beautifully written

Nothing is as it seems in this latest brilliant instalment from the Detective Jonah Sheens series. Little Sister is a hugely affecting tale of innocence lost and revenge - the kind of book you'll want to read twice to see if you spot the clues the second time! Cleverly plotted, perfectly paced, and with the trademark warmth we've come to expect from this series

Intriguing, unsettling and twisty as hell. A great cast of characters who are brilliantly drawn. Gytha is a classy storyteller

Fresh, original and compulsive - I raced through it

Little Sister had me thoroughly hooked right the way through, with twists and turns I did not see coming. Vivid characterisation, and a masterly control of the rising tension. A fantastic crime novel

Little Sister gripped me from the very first page, Lodge is an absolute master at balancing character with fast-paced plot, unexpected twists and edge of your seat, I-have-to-know-what-happened-crime

Darkly fascinating, gripping and emotionally intriguing, with a conclusion I really didn't expect

A book to keep you on your toes and break your heart a bit too. Riddled with clues I guarantee you won't guess!

I was gripped by this story - so many twists and turns I was never quite sure who to believe and it kept me on the edge of my seat until I reached the last page.

Brilliant. Had me hooked from the word go - I loved it!

Intelligent, twisting and terrifying - Little Sister is a very fine crime novel

Little Sister does not disappoint. Gytha Lodge so brilliantly hones in on the nuances of human relationships, while so convincingly building a world and creating a nail-biting case that I was desperate to get to the bottom of. I knew Gytha Lodge was good, but she just got better - this is my favourite of the series yet!

A gripping psychological thriller. Complex, dark and very twisty

Little Sister was my first experience of Gytha Lodge's work, and it won't be my last. A perfect blend of psychological thriller and police procedural, Little Sister grabs you from the first page and drags you into a murky, unsettling and utterly immersive world where nothing is quite what it seems. A book that lingers long after the gut-punch ending, this is the calling card of a natural storyteller who's on her way to the very top

A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud

Supremely readable. Gripped me from the first page and kept me turning the pages long into the night. Gytha Lodge is a consummate storyteller

Full of corkscrew twists and subtle turns, this...novel confirms Lodge as a gifted writer

Clever, pacy, well-written and utterly gripping

Gytha Lodge is a Sunday Times bestselling writer and multi-award-winning playwright. She Lies in Wait, her debut novel, was a Richard &amp; Judy Book Club pick and international bestseller. Set in the New Forest and the surrounding area, Lodge's highly-acclaimed DCI Jonah Sheens series also includes Watching From the Dark, Lie Beside Me and Little Sister. A Killer in the Family is the fifth instalment in the series. 
 
Lodge lives in Cambridge with her son.

The twisty and gripping psychological thriller from the Richard & Judy bestselling author

Lie Beside Me

Louise wakes up. Her head aches, her mouth is dry, her memory is fuzzy. But she suspects she's done something bad. 
 
She rolls over towards her husband, Niall. The man who, until recently, made her feel loved. 
 
But it's not Niall who's lying beside her. In fact, she's never seen this man before. 
 
And he's not breathing . . . 
 
 As Louise desperately struggles to piece her memories back together, it's clear to Detective Jonah Sheens and his team that she is their prime suspect - though they soon find she's not the only one with something to hide. 
 
Did she do it? And, if not, can they catch the real killer before they strike again?

A HUSBAND. A LIAR. A KILLER . . . The gripping new thriller from the Sunday Times bestseller 
 
'Utterly gripping and unpredictable' 5***** Reader Review 
'Suspenseful and compulsive with twists galore' 5***** Reader Review 
'You won't be able to put it down' 5***** Reader Review 
'Absolutely brilliant' Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The Couple at No 9 
_______ 
 
Louise wakes up. Her head aches, her mouth is dry, her memory's fuzzy. But she knows she's done something bad. 
 
She rolls over towards her husband, Niall. 
 
But it's not Niall lying beside her. In fact, she's never seen this man before. 
 
And he's not breathing . . . 
_______ 
 
'Full of corkscrew twists' Daily Mail 
 
'Brilliantly done' Harriet Tyce 
 
'Gripped me from the first page' Erin Kelly 
 
'Fast-paced but never rushed, with clues and twists to keep you absolutely hooked from the first page to the last' Jane Casey 
 
'Clever, pacy, well-written and utterly gripping' C.L. Taylor 
 
'A killer premise, razor-sharp writing, and twists to die for . . . Easily her best yet' Chris Whitaker 
 
Praise for Gytha Lodge: 
 
'A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud' VAL MCDERMID 
 
'What a marvel! A corkscrew-twisty, knife-sharp thriller' A.J. FINN, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window 
 
'An engaging tale of lust, rivalry and murder' Sunday Times 
 
'Brilliantly formed characters and a twisty, clever plot had me turning pages well past my bedtime' HEIDI PERKS, bestselling author of Now You See Her

Erin Kelly, bestselling author of He Said / She Said

Gytha Lodge handles a complicated and compelling plot with effortless skill. Lie Beside Me is fast-paced but never rushed, with clues and twists to keep you absolutely hooked from the first page to the last. I can't wait for her next book

Jane Casey, bestselling author of The Cutting Place

Clever, pacy, well-written and utterly gripping, Lie Beside Me is one of my favourite books so far this year.

The latest instalment of the Jonah Sheen series, Lie Beside Me is the best yet. It moves at a cracking pace from the high concept opening to its tightly plotted finale, while deepening the characterisation and the world so well created in the first two of the series. I stayed up till 2am to finish it - brilliantly done.

Harriet Tyce, bestselling author of Blood Orange

A killer premise, razor-sharp writing, and twists to die for, what more could you possibly want? Gytha Lodge is a brilliant storyteller, and Lie Beside Me is easily her best yet. I hope this series never ends

Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of We Begin At The End

A gripping, twisted, edge-of-your-seat thriller

Such an ingenious concept and what an opening! I was gripped from that very first shocking page. An intelligent, twisty and compulsive thriller. This is the first from the Sheens series I have read but I loved the story, and the characters so much I'm going to definitely read the others. Absolutely brilliant

Claire Douglas, bestselling author of Local Girl Missing

Secrets and self-sabotage abound in this gripping psychological thriller

Full of corkscrew twists and subtle turns, this third novel confirms Lodge as a gifted writer

This is a brilliant page-turner that will keep you mesmerised until the very last page

A snappy read that will delight thriller lovers

I absolutely raced through this. Lots of writers dream up high concept openings and then have no idea where to take them but Gytha delivers in spades and keeps you guessing until the final pages

Trevor Wood, CWA Dagger-winning author of The Man on the Street

I loved Watching from the Dark, and Lie Beside Me didn't disappoint as the next in the series. It's another gripping page-turner, where Lodge sucks us in with a nightmarish opening chapter and then keeps us guessing right until the end

Emily Koch, bestselling author of If I Die Before I Wake

It drags you in with a brilliant hook and terrific characters which won't let you go until you've finished. It will keep you guessing right until the end. HIGHLY recommended

Tense and twisty from the start, exploring the darker side of friendship and trying to put together clues from a forgotten night... I woke up early just to finish it!

Just as compelling as you'd expect from this masterful plotter . . . From that explosive opening, this pacy and intricately-woven thriller continues at speed

Lie Beside Me is perfectly paced with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers hooked, from an opening that packs a real punch, all the way through to the satisfying ending. Beautifully written with a cast of characters who keep you questioning everything you think you've worked out. I loved it

An absolute belter of a read. Thoroughly absorbing and impossible to put down. Highly recommended for crime fiction fans

An edgy multi-layered mystery with an unforgettable opening and one suspect after another. The goings on in the detectives' private lives were just as fascinating as the main story. The characters were so well-rounded they felt real. I didn't want this story to end.

The shocking opening hooked me in and the twists and turns kept me furiously turning the pages, desperate to know how the story would unfold. Lie Beside Me is a clever and compelling thriller, with a fantastic cast of characters you'll want to spend time with. I loved it

Lisa Gray, bestselling author of Thin Air

Superbly plotted and and relentlessly pacy, Lie Beside Me is hands-down her best yet. From its grab-you-by-the-throat opening to its truly shocking conclusion, Lie Beside Me will have you second-guessing everyone and everything. This really is a series going from strength to strength

Caz Frear, Richard and Judy bestselling author of Sweet Little Lies

An excellent detective novel. The opening scene is superb, and sets up the story beautifully. Gripping, multi-layered and fresh. Terrific

An absolute gem - I was hooked from the first page

Gytha Lodge lives in Cambridge with her son. She Lies in Wait, her debut novel, was a Sunday Times bestseller, a Richard &amp; Judy Book Club pick and an international bestseller. Set in the New Forest and the surrounding area, Lodge's highly-acclaimed DCI Jonah Sheens series also includes Watching From the Dark, Lie Beside Me and Little Sister. A Killer in the Family is the fifth instalment in the series.

The gripping new crime thriller from the Richard and Judy bestselling author

Watching from the Dark

Aidan Poole logs on to his laptop late at night to Skype his girlfriend, Zoe. To his horror, he realizes that there is someone else in her flat, and Aidan can only listen to the sounds of a violent struggle - and then the chilling sound of silence. 
 
Aidan is desperate to find out if Zoe is OK. So why doesn't he call the police? 
 
When her body is found, DCI Jonah Sheens and his team take the case. They soon find that no one has a bad word to say about Zoe, a big-hearted young woman at the centre of a curious web of waifs and strays, everyone relying on her for support. 
 
Each of these so-called friends is hiding dark secrets and buried resentments: has one of them been driven to do something unspeakable? 
 
Or might Aidan have the biggest secret of them all?

The latest gripping novel from the author of the Sunday Times bestselling Richard &amp; Judy thriller pick She Lies in Wait 
 
'Gripping, multi-layered and fresh. Terrific' WILL DEAN, author of Dark Pines 
_________ 
 
Aidan Poole logs onto his laptop late at night to Skype his girlfriend, Zoe. But to his horror, he realizes she is not alone. 
 
Completely helpless, all he can do is listen to the sounds of a violent struggle. 
 
And then a chilling silence. 
 
He's desperate to find out if she is OK. So why is he so hesitant to call the police? 
 
When his messages finally reach them, DCI Jonah Sheens and his team take the case. 
 
And discover the body. . . 
 
Watching from the Dark is the spellbinding thriller that you won't want to miss. 
_________ 
 
'An absolute gem - I was hooked from the first page' JO JAKEMAN, author of Sticks and Stones 
 
'A genuine page turner. It kept me guessing right until the end' CHRIS HAMMER, author of Scrublands 
 
'A satisfyingly complex whodunnit that will keep readers gripped and baffled in equal measure' Daily Express 
 
Praise for Gytha Lodge: 
 
'A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud' VAL MCDERMID 
 
'What a marvel! A corkscrew-twisty, knife-sharp thriller' A J FINN, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window 
 
'An engaging tale of lust, rivalry and murder' The Sunday Times 
 
'Brilliantly formed characters and a twisty, clever plot had me turning pages well past my bed time' HEIDI PERKS, bestselling author of Now You See Her

A brilliant premise, perfectly executed. A genuine page turner - it kept me guessing right until the end.

Chris Hammer, bestselling author of Scrublands

A riveting new book, with such vivid characters

The first scene was brilliantly terrifying and the rest of the novel lived up to the strong opening - I had no idea who the killer was and it was superbly plotted. I loved the characters, too, especially the investigating team. I can see that this series is going to be a huge hit.

A cold blooded chiller from first page to last. I loved She Lies In Wait, Watching From The Dark is even better

You'll be reluctant to put this book down until you've unravelled all its dark plot twists

Lodge writes perceptively about rivalries between young women, showing how even the best-intended relationships can become toxic

A satisfyingly complex whodunnit that will keep readers gripped and baffled in equal measure

This page-turner of a novel is intricately and intelligently plotted, and keeps you guessing right up to its gripping close

I really loved this. Jonah Sheens is a well-drawn and likeable detective, and what I like about Gytha's writing is that she thinks outside the box

Gillian McAllister, bestelling author of How to Disappear

The gripping Sunday Times bestselling Richard & Judy thriller pick

She Lies in Wait

On a hot July night in 1983, six school friends go camping in the forest. Bright and brilliant, they are destined for great things, and young Aurora Jackson is dazzled to be allowed to tag along. 
 
Thirty years later, a body is discovered. DCI Sheens is called to the scene, but he already knows what's waiting for him: Aurora Jackson, found at long last. 
 
But that's not all. The friends have all maintained their innocence, but the body is found in a hideaway only the six of them knew about. 
 
It seems the killer has always lurked very close to home...

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER &amp; RICHARD &amp; JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK 
 
SIX FRIENDS. ONE KILLER. WHO DO YOU TRUST? 
 
'A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud' VAL MCDERMID 
___________ 
 
Seven teenagers went down to the woods. Only six came back . . . 
 
30 years later, a body is discovered. 
 
DCI Sheens already knows what's waiting for him - Aurora Jackson, found at last. 
 
What he doesn't already know is that it's murder. 
 
All six witnesses insist on their innocence, but DCI Sheens is sure one of them is lying. 
 
But who? 
__________ 
 
'What a marvel! A corkscrew-twisty, knife-sharp thriller. . . Prepare to be haunted' A J Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window 
 
'I loved it. A SUPERIOR crime novel' Marian Keyes 
 
'An engaging tale of lust, rivalry and murder' The Sunday Times 
 
'A refreshing and original thriller with plot twists you never see coming!' 5***** reader review 
 
'A dark, deep, terrific thriller and a scorching portrait of friendship and its betrayal' Nicci French 
 
'A stunning debut. Brilliantly formed characters and a twisty, clever plot had me turning pages well past my bed time' Heidi Perks, bestselling author of Now You See Her 
 
'5***** This twisty-turny read is a cut above the rest because of the brilliant writing' The Sun

An atmospheric thriller that takes the idea of six friends with a dark place in their past and gives it a series of fresh, chilling twists. A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud

What a marvel! A corkscrew-twisty, knife-sharp thriller - yet it doubles as a tender ode to loss and longing. Prepare to be haunted

A.J. Finn, no.1 bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

An engaging tale of lust, rivalry and murder

Sunday Times, Pick of the best suspense novels

A dark, deep, terrific thriller and a scorching portrait of friendship and its betrayal

This enjoyably chilling suspense tale conveys both the thrills and the dangers of being a teenager on the brink of adult independence... The obvious questions of how she died and at whose hand are properly dealt with. But the fascination of this story is in the character studies of the surviving children, all grown up now and participants in a dark mystery that they all wish had never seen the light of day

She Lies in Wait delivers on just about every level - a killer premise, an absorbing plot that twists and turns at just the right pace, and in DCI Jonah Sheens a lead detective who has hit the page fully-formed and instantly likeable. One to watch!

In this cracking, page-turning thriller, Gytha Lodge brings the reader on a twisty edgy ride, flipping deftly between two timelines as it races towards the reveal. Gripping stuff

Karen Perry, bestselling author of Girl Unknown

Classic detective fiction at its best! Lodge paints an absorbing tale of murder - and more - involving a cast of superbly drawn characters. Rarely does a book so seamlessly blend the past and the present, building edge-of-the-seat suspense to the very final scene, all the while offering up piercing psychological insight

A gripping, atmospheric thriller and hugely promising debut

A stunning debut. Brilliantly formed characters and a twisty, clever plot had me turning pages well past my bed time.

Heidi Perks, Sunday Times bestselling author of Now You See Her

A strong debut thriller with dual timelines. Mysterious, stylish, and utterly compelling

Will Dean, bestselling author of Dark Pines

By turns elegant and savage, absorbing and clinical, She Lies In Wait is one of those rare debuts that stops you dead, commands you to turn each page, and leaves you piecing together a story you are desperate to unfold yet loath to finish. Seriously impressive.

Chris Whitaker, CWA Dagger-winning author of Tall Oaks

This twisty-turny read is a cut above the rest because of the brilliant writing. 5 *****

A stunner, a proper whodunnit. It kept me up well past bed-time, turning those pages. Well-plotted, brilliant characters, beautifully written: a sure-fire hit

Jo Spain, no.1 bestselling author of The Confession

With a punchy hook, this is the perfect read for a book club

Gytha Lodge is an incredibly talented writer and this is an haunting, assured debut that will stay with the reader long after they've finished the last page.

An atmospheric debut... Lodge smoothly intercuts the present-day police probe by whip-sharp recent transfer Det. Constable Juliette Hanson and other team members with flashbacks to the last day of Aurora's life as seen through her eyes... This psychological thriller marks a promising start to a planned series

Sheens and his team are compassionate, clever, and likeable... The mystery intrigues and twists, offering enough red herrings and moments of police procedural to please fans of the genre. There are already two more DCI Sheens novels in the works - hooray!

Masterful and immersive, told with pace and nuance - totally gripping. The tension wracks up page after page. A fantastic book, a sure-fire bestseller

Chris Hammer, No.1 Bestselling author of Scrublands

I thoroughly enjoyed it - a great evocation of being a teenager, and a tense meshing of time lines. I'm very glad it's the start of a series

Classic detective fiction at its best! Lodge paints an absorbing tale of murder-and more--involving a cast of superbly drawn characters. Rarely does a book so seamlessly blend the past and the present, building edge-of-the-seat suspense to the very final scene, all the while offering up piercing psychological insight that draws us in as completely as the plot.

Jeffery Deaver, author of The Never Game and The Bone Collector

Most enjoyable - Gytha Lodge is a skilled storyteller and she weaves such an intricate plot. The book hooked me early on and kept me up way past my bedtime on several nights! The team of detectives Gytha has put together is top notch. All in all, a very satisfying read

She Lies in Wait drew me in from the very first page. Gytha Lodge has created a compulsive crime novel with a heartbreaking story and a complex plot as well as a whole set of brilliant characters, especially the clever and likeable DCI Sheens. Difficult to put down, it kept me guessing until the end

Jenny Quintana, bestselling author of The Missing Girl

I can't remember a debut I read with such pleasure - a really masterful handling of complex plot and beautiful characterisation

Helen Callaghan, bestselling author of Dear Amy

A thriller with a chilling psychological edge that explores the bonds of friendship

Slow-burning, yet intense ... Ticks all the crime thriller boxes

Brilliant. We predict she is a big name for the future

The One That Got Away

Arabella and Reid weren't meant to be, apparently. She's a fiery American journalist; he's a stoic British detective - it was nice while it lasted, and then it really wasn't. 
 
And Arabella is over it now anyway. She's on the scent of a career-making story - a suspicious death amongst the cloistered elite world of Cambridge University. It's just, the more she investigates, the more there's only one person she wants to talk to about it. She starts writing Reid a long sprawling email - it's not like she's ever planning to send it. 
 
Until suddenly, her hunt for a killer leads her into desperate trouble. And the only detective she can trust with her life is the one who broke her heart.

You thought he was the one. You broke his heart. But now, he might be the only one who can save your life... 
Pre-order the brilliant breakout new thriller from bestselling Gytha Lodge now! 
 
*********** 
Arabella and Reid weren't meant to be, apparently. She's a fiery American journalist; he's a stoic British detective - it was nice while it lasted, and then it really wasn't. 
 And Arabella is over it now anyway. She's on the scent of a career-making story - a suspicious death amongst the cloistered elite world of Cambridge University, with a slice of police corruption too. 
It's just, the more she investigates, the more there's only one person she wants to talk to about it - for practical help, yes, but also because there's really only one person she wants to talk to. She starts writing Reid a long sprawling email - it's not like she's ever planning to send it. 
Until suddenly, she's in desperate trouble. The problem with chasing a killer is that sometimes, you run right into them. 
Is it a blessing or a curse that the only the detective she can trust with her life is the one who broke her heart? 
************ 
Praise for Gytha Lodge 
 
'A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud' VAL McDERMID 
'Gripped me from the first page and kept me turning the pages long into the night' ERIN KELLY 
'Smart, moody, intense and tangled. I loved it' GILLIAN MCALLISTER 
'With clues and twists to keep you absolutely hooked from the first page to the last. I can't wait for her next book' JANE CASEY

Gytha Lodge

The gripping new thriller that will have you hooked from the first page

Someone in your family isn't who they say they are... Pre-order the page-turning new thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author now! 
 
Aisling's two sons, Ethan and Finn, mean everything to her. Ever since becoming estranged from her own parents, though, she's always felt like a piece of herself is missing. 
 
Desperate to find answers - about her family, and herself - Aisling uploads her DNA to an ancestry website, and is thrilled when it finds a match. 
 
But instead of finding answers, she comes face to face with Detective Jonah Sheens. Aisling's DNA is a match for a recent crime scene - the latest in a string of murders by a dangerous serial killer, known as 'the bonfire killer'. And the police have three lead suspects: her father, or one of her two sons... 
 
Praise for Gytha Lodge 
 
'A novel that literally makes you hold your breath then gasp out loud' VAL McDERMID 
'Gripped me from the first page and kept me turning the pages long into the night' ERIN KELLY 
'Smart, moody, intense and tangled. I loved it' GILLIAN McALLISTER 
'With clues and twists to keep you absolutely hooked from the first page to the last. I can't wait for her next book' JANE CASEY

Gytha Lodge

A Killer in the Family

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