Macabre murders plague a rural town as a scam-artist psychic races to find the answers in this haunting thriller from award-winning author Jen Williams, perfect for fans of C.J. Tudor and Alex North.

‘I was absolutely blown away ? I could almost feel myself shivering in the shadow of Red Rigg Fell’ James Oswald

‘Nonstop plotting, richly drawn characters and a masterful touch ? Fantastic-in every sense of the word!’ Jeffery Deaver

‘The perfect combination of a twisty thriller and a classic horror tale ? Jen Williams is at the top of her game’ Alex Finlay

As a child, Ashley Whitelam was haunted by ghostly figures no one else could see. Silent and watchful, these Heedful Ones followed her wherever she went. She hasn’t seen them for eighteen years, not since that fateful night at Red Rigg House.

But now they’re back, and they’re trying to tell her something.

Children start to disappear across the Lake District and Ashley becomes involved in the investigation, eager for free publicity to promote her work as a psychic. She never expected the collaboration to bear fruit, but when she discovers the body of one of the missing children, everything changes.

The police are convinced that she’s involved with the killings, and the press are hounding her for answers. Desperate to clear her name, she works with true crime podcaster, Freddie Miller, to investigate. As they look deeper into the disappearances, Ashley must dig into the demons of her past, before the nightmare in the present comes for her, too.

READERS LOVE THE HUNGRY DARK

‘This was an excellent read, fast paced, frightening and what an ending!’ ?????

‘An atmospheric story? I love how the characters are developed’ ?????

‘A masterful exploration of the human psyche amidst a backdrop of horror and suspense’ ?????

Hithechurch, a peaceful, out-of-the-way seaside town in Kent.

When Charlie was young, she would visit with her family, making friends and playing down by the beach.

Their favourite was telling scary stories; silly games of make-believe that would twist and weave old wife’s tales to scare each other. They would laugh and try to shake off the shiver than ran down their backs and made the hair on their necks stand on end.

But what if it wasn’t all make-believe?

Years later Charlie returns to Hithechurch with her niece, researching a book on folklore. As she delves deeper into the history of the area, she finds something disturbing: a decades long history of women going missing. Could the stories be true?

Charlie is about to find out some games are deadlier than others.

What if your mother had been writing to a serial killer?

A convicted murderer  with a story to tell
 
Serial killer Michael Reave – known as The Red Wolf – has been locked in Belmarsh Prison for over 20 years for the brutal and ritualistic murders of countless women.
 
A grieving daughter with a secret to unearth
 
Ex-journalist Heather Evans returns to her childhood home after her mother’s inexplicable suicide and discovers something chilling – hundreds of letters between her mother and Reave, dating back decades.
 
A hunt for a killer  ready to strike again

When the body of a woman is found decorated with flowers, just like his victims, Reave is the only person alive who could help. After years of silence, he will speak to Heather, and only Heather.

If she wants to unearth the truth and stop further bloodshed, she’ll have to confront a monster.

PRAISE FOR DOG ROSE DIRT:
‘One of the creepiest serial killer thrillers I’ve encountered in a long time’ AMY MCCULLOCH
‘I read it heart in mouth’ HARRIET TYCE
‘Terrifying, fun and insightful’ NATHAN RIPLEY
‘Taut and stylish’ E.G. SCOTT
‘Brimming with secrets’ MEGAN COLLINS
‘Reminiscent of SHARP OBJECTS’ SARAH PINBOROUGH
‘Strangely beautiful, powerful and disturbing.’ HEAT
‘Chilling’ BELLA

What if your mother had been writing to a serial killer?

A convicted murderer  with a story to tell
 
Serial killer Michael Reave – known as The Red Wolf – has been locked in Belmarsh Prison for over 20 years for the brutal and ritualistic murders of countless women.
 
A grieving daughter with a secret to unearth
 
Ex-journalist Heather Evans returns to her childhood home after her mother’s inexplicable suicide and discovers something chilling – hundreds of letters between her mother and Reave, dating back decades.
 
A hunt for a killer  ready to strike again

When the body of a woman is found decorated with flowers, just like his victims, Reave is the only person alive who could help. After years of silence, he will speak to Heather, and only Heather.

If she wants to unearth the truth and stop further bloodshed, she’ll have to confront a monster.

PRAISE FOR DOG ROSE DIRT:
‘One of the creepiest serial killer thrillers I’ve encountered in a long time’ AMY MCCULLOCH
‘I read it heart in mouth’ HARRIET TYCE
‘Terrifying, fun and insightful’ NATHAN RIPLEY
‘Taut and stylish’ E.G. SCOTT
‘Brimming with secrets’ MEGAN COLLINS
‘Reminiscent of SHARP OBJECTS’ SARAH PINBOROUGH
‘Strangely beautiful, powerful and disturbing.’ HEAT
‘Chilling’ BELLA