DARK, GRIPPING AND UNEXPECTED

An Argentinian DCI in the heart of middle England brings a thoughtful outsider's viewpoint to a murder that has troubling links to unsolved crimes from the past. Guillermo Downes'sintelligent, intuitive policework keeps the pages turning

An intriguing debut . . . the plot [has] a strength and texture that help set it apart . . . Taut and told with panache, it ushers in a suitably spiky police hero

Marrison's tense debut expertly evokes a sense of place . . . the highly unusual denouement will catch most readers by surprise

A gripping thriller . . . a readable, complex tale, astutely paced . . . If the mark of a good whodunnit is that you can't actually guess whodunnit, then The Drowning Ground does its job well. Despite following the plot closely, I was still taken aback by the denouement

Move over Morse

With an intricate plot with numerous twists and an intriguing cop with a complex history, Marrison rivets the reader straight through to the novel's chilling conclusion. An author to watch, he scores high with this impressive debut

An assured début which promises much for the future

So many characters with so many secrets and deviant behaviours make this début mystery by James Marrison a real winner. The author's complex plotting, haunted characters, and gorgeous descriptions of winter are an absolute joy to read even as the action takes one suspenseful turn, then another and then another to an unexpected denouement. When it seems as though all the clues have been resolved, Marrison saves one last shocking revelation for the final chapter.. . . Expertly setting us up for the next chapter in the series ( I can't wait!), Marrison writes lovingly of his new hero, Guillermo Downes, a detective plagued by demons both internal and external yet determined to expose murder most foul whenever and wherever he can

A masterful novel . . . The protagonists are wonderfully portrayed. Downes is a bit of a mystery, a man born in Buenos Aires of a Argentinian mother and an English father. What led him to leave his homeland and make a life for himself in this small English town? Perhaps the answer will be revealed in the next novel in the series, something I'm eagerly anticipating

A skilful, tautly written thriller

She tells her tale with a realism and restraint that add to its shattering impact

‘A brilliant, enthralling debut’

A terrifically chilling exploration of the darkness at the heart of a seemingly ordinary marriage, the life of quiet desperation behind a neat suburban door. Gripping and horribly plausible

Gritty, emotional and so believable

Next year’s The Girl on the Train

The Widow is generating a huge buzz

Will keep you gripped till the end

A highly enjoyable first novel... Gripping

Pre-order for next year

A creepy, but gripping, read that will keep you up all night

Fiona Barton is perceptive, empathetic and a talented writer...this is a promising debut from a talented writer.

A strikingly strong story, executed with fierce professionalism and rings true from page one... This has bestseller written all over it.

Just amazing. A mix of Patricia Highsmith with the very best of Ruth Rendell. This is going to be a huge hit

A gripping crime thriller... It's a chilling, twisting tale.

Strong female leads give this haunting thriller added bite. The Widow is deserving of its accolades.

The Widow is feminist, weighty and scarily plausible. It will haunt you.