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The rising stars of 2026: discover the must-read debut novels of the year

Leodora Darlington

An outstandingly clever novel where the twists are an integral part of the story and not imposed upon it. I was dazzled and enthralled.

An excellent read - entertaining, intriguing and exciting. Bravo!

I absolutely loved this – an irresistible voice and jaw-dropping twists. So f***ing good!

Katy Brent, bestselling author of How To Kill Men and Get Away With It

This is the book I’ve been hungry for. Sharp and smart, The Exes grips with a well orchestrated story, while exploring deeper themes with a deft hand and underlying humour.

Beautifully written, and full of unexpected twists and turns, The Exes is a cathartic book for anyone with a terrible ex, with profound things to say about family and the lengths we'll go to protect the ones we love

Twisting and unexpected, Leodora Darlington is set to be a breakout thriller big name with a plot that constantly wrong-foots you.

This is such an assured debut, told in a gripping 'then and now' structure as we delve into Natalie's mind. Dark and twisty with a tinge of humour - thriller fans will love it

The Exes explodes out the gate and never lets up, delivering twist after shocking twist right up until its deeply affecting end. A razor-sharp debut about the secrets we keep even from ourselves

Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines

A real wild, rollercoaster read. Such a great premise, executed brilliantly. Beautiful writing and great pacing. People often talk about ‘shocking twists’, but this thriller truly delivers – literal jaw drop! I absolutely loved it!

I rarely get so excited by a book that I want to shout out loudly about it non-stop, but this one absolutely captured me from the off ... A tremendous read always leaves a happy afterglow for a few days. The Exes has left a burning fire as I still find myself still musing over the characters and such a clever plot. Readers will be completely satiated by this terrific read.

An exquisitely written wild ride of a story full of complex characters, taut suspense and plot twists you won’t see coming

Jessica George, internationally bestselling author of Maame

This thrilling debut comes with a clever tortuous plot that will have you questioning not only the characters but yourself. Darlington, who is of Ghanaian heritage, is pitched as "an extraordinary new voice in crime fiction" and we can see why

A brilliant and exciting new voice in thriller world. Deft, tense, and deliciously twisty. More, please, Ms Darlington, and soon

Anna Mazzola, bestselling author of The Clockwork Girl

Darkly funny and completely compelling

So sharply written, I'm surprised I didn't have paper cuts

A twisty and addictive read, sprinkled with exceptional writing and psychological insights. Darlington's descriptions of Natalie as a trauma-scarred child are original and heartbreaking. There's hotness and mess but also nuance and sensitivity. Plus a cracking, layered plot. 2026 is going to be Ex-Obsessed

Jo Leevers, author of Radio 2 Book Club pick Tell Me How This Ends

THE EXES is taut, sharp, and exciting. I LOVE the writing! Honestly, it’s special. Leodora is a star. Superb debut!

Sunday Times bestselling author, Mandasue Heller

If you like your thrillers tense, twisty and utterly accomplished then this one is for you. I devoured it. Just as you think you know what to expect the rug is pulled out from under you. The Exes is sure to be a big hit next year

OMG I loved The Exes so much! Super smart with twists that almost gave me whiplash, it makes for utterly compulsive reading. A stunning debut that stays with you way after the final page - this should be on every thriller lover's TBR wishlist!

With three dead exes and her marriage under strain, is Natalie a villain or a victim? The Exes is a wild and twisty killer ride from a talent to watch

Sam Blake, no.1 Irish Times bestselling author of The Killing Sense

Twisty, daring and utterly addictive, The Exes kept me reading late into the night. A sharp, emotionally charged thriller from a brilliant writer. A knockout debut.

D.S. Butler, whose book have sold over a million copies

A gripping, surprising, addicting read, and I'm already thinking about diving back in to see what I missed. Every twist cranked things up two notches, and every time I thought I knew what was coming, it turned out Darlington was three steps ahead. And Nat! Poor Nat, who never gives up no matter how heavy the world gets, is a new favorite main character. What a debut!

Jim Rion, the translator of Strange Pictures

This thrilling debut comes with a clever, tortuous plot that will have you questioning not only the characters but yourself

The fractured structure reflects Natalie's internal turmoil, asking readers whether they can trust a woman who doesn't trust herself

An outstandingly clever novel where the twists are an integral part of the story and not imposed upon it. I was dazzled and enthralled

Natalie’s in tears in her bedroom. She’s had a huge argument with her husband. Slowly, she realises she’s already holding a knife. 
 
She’s telling herself she doesn’t want to do it. Not again. 
 
Because Natalie has an awful secret. Sometimes, on her worst nights, she blacks out. She loses control. 
 
What do you do when there’s a killer in your house, and you think it might be you?

Leodora Darlington

Praise for The Exes

An outstandingly clever novel where the twists are an integral part of the story and not imposed upon it. I was dazzled and enthralled.

Electrifying and super twisty

An excellent read - entertaining, intriguing and exciting. Bravo!

An outstandingly clever novel where the twists are an integral part of the story and not imposed upon it. I was dazzled and enthralled.

Electrifying and super twisty

An excellent read - entertaining, intriguing and exciting. Bravo!

An outstandingly clever novel where the twists are an integral part of the story and not imposed upon it. I was dazzled and enthralled.

Electrifying and super twisty

An excellent read - entertaining, intriguing and exciting. Bravo!

Articles featuring Leodora Darlington

The rising stars of 2026: discover the must-read debut novels of the year

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