The characters - and potential suspects - introduced are interesting and compelling, with the background story original and disturbing. Without giving too much away, I felt the subject tackled in this novel deserves to be widely recognised and confronted. This layered plot considers a range of themes including homelessness, revenge and sexuality. By combining all of these strands, Merilyn Davies has produced a believable novel with realistic characters

Superbly written ... For me, If I Fall is an unputdownable, page turner of a read, that kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout ... I will certainly be reading more of Merilyn's work in the future

Gripping and authentic

Merilyn Davies ventures away from the well-known paths to build a gripping thriller

This fast-paced, authentic thriller – written by an ex-crime analyst – immerses you so deeply in the investigation, you’ll be desperate to get to the bottom of the case.

‘The darkness surrounding the two girls and their vulnerable hopelessness twanged at my heart strings…That the author is a former crime analyst gives the story an authentic, experienced and intelligent feel. Yet pleasingly there is not too much police jargon. There is a good sense of atmosphere along with time and place in both timelines…an excellent debut novel.’

Hieronymus Bosch meets Miles Davis

He belongs with those great demented realists ... whose writing pitilessly exposes the ridiculousness of the human condition

A tense and claustrophobic rollercoaster

An unforgettable debut with a truly chilling opening chapter that hooks you in and doesn't let go. Clever, compelling, pacy and powerful

Had me hooked from the first page ... a gripping and twisty story of grief, fear and the fierce bond of motherhood

A brave and suspenseful debut that had me turning pages deep into the early hours. Truly superb

It's been a long time since I've stayed up late to finish a book. When They Find Her is not only utterly gripping but also a sensitive and moving portrayal of parental love. Middleton's astute writing made me feel as though I was there was Naomi in her every moment of tension

Utterly gripping . . . I could not put it down

Nail-biting ... some truly fabulous unexpected turns make this an altogether gripping and provocative read

Claustrophobic, intense, unsettling and drags you into the story ... Unbelievably exciting

'Nightmarish, dark and twisty, I galloped to end. A domestic psychological drama with polish'

A really gripping read that will make you stay up late to finish it

Full of suspense

A historical episode artfully adapted in a tale that offers glimmers of hope for women discarded by society

Wonderful, evocative, moving and suspenseful

A vivid, cleverly-crafted mystery that will keep the reader turning the pages

It's a fantastically exciting story, and a wonderful novel. There is so much more going on, on the Rajah, in this unity of women, than a simple love story

Transforms an actual 19th-century sea voyage of female convicts into a striking drama. The ship's young matron chooses a group to sew a presentation quilt, but near their destination, someone stabs one of the quilters. Evocative sketches of those on board reveal the realities of poor women's lives - readers will be rewarded

A murder mystery with a great twist at the end . . . Gripping

Dangerous Women is a successful blend of two genres: a historical novel, inspired by real events, and a murder mystery with a great twist at the end. By the time I was halfway through I was completely gripped, and couldn't put it down

An enthralling narrative . . . lays bare the painful lives of these women, far from their homes and loved ones, and feeling the brutal weight of the law

This atmospheric narrative excels in its depiction of the relationship between female prisoners - largely petty criminals - and the tragic backstories that have brought them together

Packed with atmosphere . . . a terrific read

A very fine novel - and, like the quilt it celebrates, a work of love

Utterly compelling and as finely wrought as the patchwork quilt that inspired the story

Fascinating. Gives women without one a voice - a storming read

A compelling, immersive book that deftly weaves its beauty and pathos. I'm still thinking about it

An enthralling story, inspired by true events

A secret murder on a convict ship transporting women to Australia in 1841 . . . this is an intriguing story, with its root embedded in facts

Intriguing . . . [Hope Adams] can stitch a great story

In vivid detail, Hope Adams illuminates life in convict quarters on a stinking, storm-soaked ship, and delves into the lives of individual women and the small tragedies that have condemned them to be sent far away, with little hope of return

A well-paced page-turner illuminating a forgotten story that reminds us how far we have come

Pulls you into the heart of its story, while celebrating redemption, rehabilitation and the good in people. All set to the backdrop of a truly fascinating slice of history

Historical events and characters are cleverly blended into a thought-provoking tale

Adams disguises a social-history lesson on women's rights as a gripping period drama