The jaw-dropping and twisty new thriller: If you have a secret, they’ll find you …

The Confession Room

'Thrilling, chilling, heart-stopping . . . impossible to put down' CHRIS WHITAKER 
'Terrifying, dark and original with a brilliantly shocking ending - loved this book' CATHERINE COOPER 
'Non-stop thrills. Perhaps the best psychological thriller I've read' 5* READER REVIEW 
'A full-tilt thriller . . . original, timely and very clever. Lia's best yet!' EMILY FREUD 
'Bristles with dread and threat – it is not for a dark autumn night' DAILY MAIL 
'Fast-paced and topical . . . a total page-turner' ALLIE REYNOLDS 
 
 
WELCOME TO THE CONFESSION ROOM. 
An online forum for admitting your sins. 
 
Some people confess to affairs, others to stealing. Some admit deep, dark wishes. And former police officer Emilia Haines, reading strangers' secrets is the perfect distraction from the past. 
 
But one day, Emilia stumbles on the darkest confession yet: 
 
MURDER. 
 
At first, it seems like a hoax. But when a body is found, then another victim is named, Emilia can't look away. 
 
How are the victims linked? Who is confessing to murder to publicly? 
 
And how do you catch a serial killer who is hiding in plain sight? 
 
**** 
 
Praise for Lia Middleton: 
'Tense, jaw-dropping, clever' CLAIRE DOUGLAS 
'Keeps you guessing from start to finish' JANE FALLON 
'I loved it. Huge twists' GILLIAN McALLISTER 
'Brilliantly written . . . I'll be recommending it to everyone I know' SARAH PEARSE 
'A stand-out psychological thriller' ASHLEY AUDRAIN 
'Superb. Assured, elegant and utterly gripping' WILL DEAN 
'Couldn't put it down' CATHERINE COOPER

A thrilling, chilling, heart-stopping read. With a killer premise and twists that leave you shaken, The Confession Room is impossible to put down

Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End

Bristles with dread and threat &ndash; it is not for a dark autumn night

Terrifying, dark and original with a brilliantly shocking ending - loved this book

Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of The Cruise

Lia Middleton's latest crime thriller gives us a glimpse of the dark side of the web - and it's terrifying! Fast-paced and topical, The Confession Room is a total page-turner!

A full-tilt thriller which is truly unforgettable. The chilling premise is original, timely and very clever. After reading this book, you'll think twice before sharing your secrets online. Lia's best yet!

Emily Freud, author of What She Left Behind

Lia Middleton has crafted the most unsettling and unique of premises, utilising the anonymity of the Internet to build tension. Mixing serial killer crime and edge-of-your-seat mystery, it's a book that's absorbing and chilling in equal measure

Keeps you guessing from start to finish

Brilliantly written . . . I'll be recommending it to everyone I know

A stand-out psychological thriller

Superb. Assured, elegant and utterly gripping

Absorbing and chilling. Middleton has crafted the most unsettling and unique of premises, mixing serial killer crime and edge-of-your-seat mystery

Someone is confessing to murders they have yet to commit on an anonymous internet forum. Emilia Hayes, a former police officer who stumbles on the site, tries desperately to reach the victims before it's too late. 
 
But the killer is too quick for her. 
 
And when a confession comes through that names her as the next victim, she finds herself in a desperate race against time...

A shockingly twisty, gripping psychological thriller

Your Word Or Mine

What lies would you tell to uncover the truth? . . . THE UNPUTDOWNABLE NEW THRILLER PERFECT FOR FANS OF ANATOMY OF A SCANDAL 
 
'Enough twists to give you whiplash. This is a clever, shocking read' CLARE MACKINTOSH 
'Tense, jaw-dropping, clever' CLAIRE DOUGLAS 
'Keeps you guessing from start to finish' JANE FALLON 
'I loved it. Huge twists' GILLIAN MCALLISTER 
_________ 
 
Prosecutor Ava Knight always plays by the rules. 
 
Until she meets fifteen-year-old Lily Hawthorne, accused of stabbing hotel magnate Michael Osborne in cold blood. 
 
It should be an open-and-shut case. But Ava suspects something everyone else does not: 
MICHAEL OSBORNE IS LYING. 
 
Because eighteen years ago, Ava was brutally assaulted. The case went to trial. Her attacker was acquitted. 
 
His name? Michael Osborne. 
 
Now, court is in session. 
 
And Ava must decide how far she's willing to go to uncover the truth . . . 
_________ 
 
'Just when you think you have it figured out, another bombshell of a twist drops' SAMANTHA DOWNING, author of MY LOVELY WIFE 
 
Readers LOVE Your Word Or Mine 
 
'A genuine twist that left me open mouthed as I turned the last page' 5* Reader Review 
'The author does it again. Full of twists, fast-paced . . . I was hooked' 5* Reader Review 
'Tense and emotional, characters so real they almost step off the page . . . one of the most pacy thrillers I've read in a while' 5* Reader Review 
'Wow! What a book! This had me holding my breath' 5* Reader Review 
'Fast paced, suspenseful, scarily believable' 5* Reader Review 
'Shocking, clever and unpredictable' 5* Reader Review 
 
Praise for Lia Middleton 
 
'Brilliantly written . . . I'll be recommending it to everyone I know' Sarah Pearse, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium 
'A stand-out psychological thriller' Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Push 
'Superb. Assured, elegant and utterly gripping' Will Dean, author of The Last Thing to Burn 
'Couldn't put it down' Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalet

Enough twists to give you whiplash. This is a clever, shocking read

Clare Mackintosh, bestselling author of The Last Party

Lia Middleton is a great writer. I loved Your Word Or Mine: a thoughtful exploration of the effect a historic crime has on a family, with several huge and elegant twists

Gillian McCallister, Sunday Times bestselling author of That Night

I inhaled Your Word or Mine over two days as I couldn't put this cat and mouse thriller down. Jaw-dropping twists and a tense, clever plot makes this a must read. I loved it!

Claire Douglas, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Couple at No.9

Keeps you guessing from start to finish. A fabulous read!

Sunday Times bestselling author Jane Fallon

Tense, twisting, clever and credible. Your Word Or Mine takes a thrilling look at the concept of cause and effect, and the complex issue of revenge. I loved it

A riveting, haunting novel that will keep you guessing! Just when you think you have it figured out, another bombshell of a twist drops

Samantha Downing, Sunday Times bestselling author of My Lovely Wife

Thrilling and on-the-edge-of-your-seat believable with some absolutely stunning twists which make the most of Lia's expert knowledge as a barrister - absolutely loved this book

Catherine Cooper, bestselling author of The Chalet

Lia Middleton has done it again! Your Word or Mine is a taut legal thriller that will keep you on your toes until the very last page. Highly recommended.

Laure Van Rensburg, author of Nobody But Us

What a page-turner! Nigh on impossible to put down, a compelling read that had me turning the pages late into the night, with numerous twists that took me aback

Anita Frank, author of The Lost Ones

I sped through this incredibly readable thriller, which is exquisitely plotted, unpredictable and utterly chilling. It broke my heart and shook me to the core with numerous bombshell twists

Emily Freud, author of My Best Friend's Secret

A cracking read. From the opening words, you know you're in for a ride. Pacy, sharp, I gobbled it in three sittings. Lia Middleton has that rare knack for taking a thorny, contemporary issue and twisting it into a highly entertaining but thoughtful read

Moving, powerful and with a series of genuinely unexpected twists

Brilliantly twisty and gripping, and so cleverly written, I kept racing through thinking I knew exactly what was coming and I was blindsided more than once! Definitely one of the best books I've read this year

Lisa Hall, author of The Woman in the Woods

When They Find Her opens with an unthinkable wallop to the heart, and takes off racing from there through a perfectly crafted, tightly written, deeply emotional story that taps into the most uncomfortable fears of motherhood and marriage. A stand-out psychological thriller with heart.

Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of <The Push

Superb debut thriller - assured, elegant and utterly gripping. EXCELLENT

Will Dean, author of The Last Thing to Burn

Brilliantly written ... I felt every single emotion and was immediately swept up into the story. I'll be recommending it to everyone I know

Sarah Pearse, author of The Sanatorium

Uncomfortable and compelling - a story which is truly the stuff of nightmares. Couldn't put it down

Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chalet

A twisty tale of parental love and a lie with terrible consequences. Dark, intense and so compelling that I read it in a single sitting

A brilliant concept that pulled me straight into the story and kept me hooked to the end

Nikki Smith, author of All in Her Head

An unnerving and gripping thriller in which a split-second choice plunges the protagonist Naomi into a web of terror and lies. Deftly written and chillingly plausible ... a bold, compelling and clever debut

Philippa East, author of Little White Lies

A tense and claustrophobic rollercoaster

Nina Manning, author of The Daughter in Law

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

Diane Jeffrey, author of The Silent Friend

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

Claire Allan, author of Her Name Was Rose

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

Fíona Scarlett, author of Boys Don't Cry

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

Rebecca Kelly, author of Monstrous Souls

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

Roxie Cooper, author of The Day We Met

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

When fifteen-year-old Anabelle King was raped, she reported it immediately. But corrupted evidence meant the jury let her attacker go. 
 
 Eighteen years later, Anabelle is Ava, a barrister who always follows the rules. But that changes when she reads a familiar name in a case file: Michael Osborne. This time, Michael is the alleged victim, and in the dock is a young girl: Lily Hawthorne, who pleads guilty of GBH without hesitation. 
 
 Ava is sure that Lily's plea is false. She knows this man is not innocent. But how much will she have to risk to uncover the truth?

An unputdownable thriller with a twist that will take your breath away

When They Find Her

DISCOVER 2021'S MOST UNPUTDOWNABLE DEBUT THRILLER . . . 
 
'I'll be recommending it to everyone I know' SARAH PEARSE, author of The Sanatorium 
'Absolutely lived up to the hype' 5***** READER REVIEW 
I was totally hooked from the beginning' 5***** READER REVIEW 
'A stand-out psychological thriller with heart' ASHLEY AUDRAIN, bestselling author of The Push 
_______ 
 
'PLEASE HELP ME . . . MY DAUGHTER HAS GONE' 
 
Naomi is desperate to prove to her ex husband that she can be trusted with their only child. She's made mistakes, but she knows she's a good mother. 
 
So when an overnight stay goes terribly wrong, Naomi panics - and tells a desperate lie. 
 
SHE REPORTS HER DAUGHTER MISSING. 
 
Within hours, police begin searching her home. Journalists crowd her driveway. Her former husband paces the hall. Soon the whole country will be looking for her daughter. And Naomi knows her lie has gone too far. 
 
BUT CAN SHE EVER TAKE IT BACK? 
_______ 
 
'Superb. Utterly gripping' WILL DEAN, author of The Last Thing to Burn 
'Truly the stuff of nightmares. Couldn't put it down' CATHERINE COOPER, bestselling author of The Chalet 
'A tense and claustrophobic rollercoaster' NINA MANNING 
'Had me turning pages into the early hours. Truly superb' KATIE LOWE 
'Powerful . . . a promising debut from a new voice' DAILY MAIL 
 
READERS ARE HOOKED . . . 
 
'Flawlessly written, twisty and nerve-wracking' 5***** READER REVIEW 
'Absolutely phenomenal' 5***** READER REVIEW 
'This book was one I was excited to read and it didn't disappoint . . . the story was excellent' 5***** READER REVIEW 
'As clever and compelling as it is gripping' 5***** READER REVIEW 
'Nail-biting suspense throughout' 5***** READER REVIEW

Superb debut thriller - assured, elegant and utterly gripping. EXCELLENT

The barrister background of this writer makes the police and court procedural parts of this story particularly powerful . . . Middleton has a lawyer's keen eye for telling detail but the real strength of the story comes from the convincing depiction of a mother's love . . . a promising debut from a new voice

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

Naomi always wanted to be a mother. 
 
But a year ago, she made a dreadful mistake, and lost custody of her only child. 
 
Now, her daughter has come to stay, and Naomi knows it's her one chance to re-build her family. But the night ends in a terrible accident. And Naomi tells a lie she can never take back: 
 
She reports her daughter missing. 
 
Within hours, her home is invaded. Journalists crowd the driveway. Police search the woods at the foot of the garden. Her ex-husband paces the hall. 
 
And Naomi can't look away. Because the only thing worse than the lie she's told is the truth: 
 
Naomi has no memory of what really happened that night...

Lia Middleton

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

Written by a practising criminal barrister this is twisty and gripping - with a stunning denouement. Dame Agatha herself would be proud of it

Written with unobtrusive skill by a criminal barrister who knows exactly how much information the reader needs

A dangerously simmering plot and great characters

A thrilling, chilling, heart-stopping read

ONE MARRIAGE. ONE LIE. TWO SIDES TO THE STORY… 
 
FRANK is standing trial for violently murdering his wife. His defence? She did it herself. 
 
HARRY is Frank’s defence lawyer. Whether he believes Frank or not, it’s the biggest case of his career and he has to prove he can win. 
 
PIERA is Harry’s wife. She’s hiding a secret that could blow the whole case, and their life together, apart. 
 
AS THE SECRETS MOUNT, ONLY ONE TRUTH CAN SOLVE IT. 
 
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THAT NIGHT?

Lia Middleton

Praise for What the Wife Knew

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

A suspenseful blend of legal and psychological thriller

Books by Lia Middleton

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter