Hello and welcome to my website. I’m the author of the Sal Kilkenny private eye stories and creator and scriptwriter of Blue Murder, ITV’s hit detective drama starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. I write the Scott & Bailey books, based on the much loved ITV police series. My standalone titles, psychological fiction, explore the lives of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events, giving a voice to victims, the bereaved, survivors and witnesses. Thank you to everyone who has borrowed, bought or downloaded one of my books. Happy reading.
What Are You Reading?
My recent favourites have taken me to worlds far and near – 19th century New England, the video games industry, murder in rural India, a haunted indie book store as the pandemic hits, the ex-pat community in Shanghai – in stories about finding identity, family strife, secrets, fights for justice and the power of love and friendship.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
Tinkers by Paul Harding
River East River West by Aube Rey Lescure
Milk Teeth by Jessica Andrews
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
A Lesson in Violence by Jordan Harper
Sharp Glass by Sarah Hilary
Black River by Nilanjana Roy
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
A batch of good books
I love to read. I get through two, sometimes three, novels a week. More on holiday. And I’m fortunate in having a brilliant library service here in Manchester where I can reserve titles I’m interested in. Here are some I’ve really enjoyed. Perhaps you’ll find something you like among them.
Little Wing by Freya North
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
Devotion by Hannah Kent
The Abstainer Ian McGuire
The Colony by Audrey Magee
The Free by Willy Vlautin
The Traitor of Treasure Island by John Drake
The New Life by Tom Crewe
The Fells
A missing woman. A cold case. A dark secret, buried deep beneath the Yorkshire Dales.
I’m delighted that The Fells, the first in my Detectives Donovan and Young series, is out now. I’ve so enjoyed writing about Leo Donovan and Shan Young. Partnered here for the first time, their friendship quickly develops, stemming from shared values, mutual respect and growing affection. They have each other’s backs, make each other laugh. Their job can be harrowing but they look forward every day to working together. There’s a lot of me in both of them.
The books are rooted in the unique landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, a place of hills and valleys, waterfalls and rivers, drystone walls and ruined barns, deep, dark caves and windswept limestone pavements. Growing up in Bradford, the Dales was where we went for day trips and caravan holidays. Somewhere I’ve loved to visit since.
When a skeleton is discovered deep in the labyrinth of caves under the Yorkshire Dales, veteran detective Leo Donovan and newbie Shan Young must hunt the killer while each struggles with personal heartbreak at home. Lively student Vicky Mott, missing for twenty years, is a suspected victim of the Fellside Strangler. But with evidence mounting that someone else is the killer, Leo and Shan strive to unearth the truth and deliver justice for Vicky and her family.
Happy reading!
Too Many To Mention
It’s been a while since I’ve posted some recommendations but I’ve read SO many excellent books – with thanks to Manchester City Libraries who keep me supplied and have a brilliant reservation system. Here are a fraction of the titles I’ve loved recently. Hope you find something you like. Happy Reading!
All the Sinners Bleed by SA Cosby
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
The Ghost Theatre by Mat Osman
Still Life by Sarah Winman
Other Women by Emma Flint
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
The Slowworm’s Song by Andrew Miller
Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford
Bestseller!
THE LOST GIRLS OF ST ANN’S has succeeded beyond all my wildest dreams. Achieving bestseller status #1 in the Kindle Adoption category, reaching #2 in Sagas and spending weeks in the Kindle Top 100 bestsellers list! Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has bought a copy.
THE LOST GIRLS OF ST ANN’S is a novel very close to my heart (and a change from my crime fiction). The book is rooted in my experience as an adoptee but I also wanted to reflect the many different stories I’ve heard from other adoptees, birth and adoptive parents. And to capture the loss that remains for everyone at the heart of adoption.
Manchester, 1960.
When you’re young, unmarried and pregnant, in a shaming society that will never understand, there’s only one place left to go. St Ann’s mother and baby home. That’s how restless Joan, who dreams of a glamorous new life in the Big Smoke, finds herself shut away with two unlikely new roommates: spirited Megan and timid country-girl Caroline, who fell pregnant on her first time. Abandoned by their families, they have no one to rely on but each other, as they wait out the days before they birth their babies — only to be parted from them forever. On a sultry May night, before the stroke of midnight, three baby girls are born — and given away to three eagerly waiting families. But for Joan, Megan and Caroline, birth is just the beginning. Try as they might to move on with life beyond the convent walls, their mistakes have a way of catching up with them.
When the past comes knocking, the three women are forced to confront the choices they made. Will they ever be reunited with their lost daughters?
The Lost Girls of St Ann’s
I’m so pleased that Joffe books are publishing THE LOST GIRLS OF ST ANN’S, previously TRIO. It’s a novel very close to my heart (and a change from my crime fiction). The book, a family saga, is rooted in my experience as an adoptee but I also wanted to reflect the range of stories I’ve heard from other adoptees, birth parents and adoptive parents and also to capture the loss that remains for everyone at the heart of adoption. I’m hoping this fresh edition will reach a whole new readership.
Manchester, 1960.
When you’re young, unmarried and pregnant, in a shaming society that will never understand, there’s only one place left to go. St Ann’s mother and baby home. That’s how restless Joan, who dreams of a glamorous new life in the Big Smoke, finds herself shut away with two unlikely new roommates: spirited Megan and timid country-girl Caroline, who fell pregnant on her first time. Abandoned by their families, they have no one to rely on but each other, as they wait out the days before they birth their babies — only to be parted from them forever. On a sultry May night, before the stroke of midnight, three baby girls are born — and given away to three eagerly waiting families. But for Joan, Megan and Caroline, birth is just the beginning. Try as they might to move on with life beyond the convent walls, their mistakes have a way of catching up with them.
When the past comes knocking, the three women are forced to confront the choices they made. Will they ever be reunited with their lost daughters?
SHADOW OF THE HILLS
I am delighted to be launching a new series with Joffe Books. SHADOW OF THE HILLS will be the first outing for DI Leo Donovan and DC Shan Young, based in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.
Kate Lyall Grant – commissioning editor at Joffe says, ‘With its stunning Yorkshire Dales setting and intricately crafted plot, SHADOW OF THE HILLS had me gripped from the outset. Cath has created a memorable new detective duo in veteran cop Leo Donovan and his pregnant rookie partner Shan Young who is tackling her very first case.’
When remains are discovered by a potholer, deep underground, they’re suspected to be those of Vicky Mott who disappeared years ago at a festival in the Dales. A possible fourth victim of a serial killer. Leo and Shan seek to uncover the truth and provide long-awaited answers for Vicky’s family and friends.
It’s such a buzz to be starting out with these new characters who face heartbreak at work and at home but support each other every step of the way.
SHADOW OF THE HILLS will be published in March 2024.
Books Books Books
Here’s another batch of books that I found compelling and memorable. Maybe you’ll find something you like here too.
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka
Where Waters Meet by Zhang Ling
Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry
The Space Between Us by Doug Johnstone
The Promise by Damon Galgut
Our Missing Hearts Celeste Ng
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent
Leeward by Katie Daysh
The Key in the Lock by Beth Underdown
Summer Reading (or any time actually).
It’s almost six months since I posted some recommendations – though I have mentioned a few of these books on Twitter. Check them out, there’s a broad variety here, and I hope you’ll find something you like
The Last Time I Saw You by Elizabeth Berg
The Trees by Percival Everett
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
Metronome by Tom Watson
The Maid by Nita Prowse
Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford
The Forcing by Paul Hardisty
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
Forever, Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid
The New Wilderness by Diane Cook
The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers
Undercover: Close to Home
Undercover: Close To Home, my three-part thriller aired in June on BBC Radio 4. And is now available on BBC Sounds.
Grace Monroe goes undercover as a live-in nanny at the home of Ben Curtis whose wife Lydia has been missing for a year.
Described as ‘Excellent, high-octane, human drama’ by the Radio Times, I’ve been delighted with the reception it’s had. Massive thanks to the cast, director Nadia Molinari and the sound production team. Happy listening!