Claire McGowan – författare

A twisty, unputdownable thriller about the secrets people keep and the lies people tell, for fans of THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN and BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. "Compelling and flawless" Sharon BoltonWhat would you do if the man you love was arrested for murder?Bad things never happen to Charlotte.But her fiancé Dan has been hiding a secret, and the pressure is pushing him over the edge.When he''s arrested for killing a nightclub owner, Charlotte''s future is shattered.Then she opens her door to Keisha, an angry and frustrated stranger with a story to tell.Convinced of Dan''s innocence, Charlotte must fight for him - even if it means destroying her perfect life. But what Keisha knows will threaten everyone she loves, and put Charlotte''s own life in danger... Three stories. One truth. Brace yourself for The Fall. What people are saying about Claire McGowan:''A knockout new talent'' Lee Child''Astonishing, powerful and immensely satisfying'' Peter James''Compelling and flawless'' Sharon Bolton''A keeps-you-guessing mystery'' Alex Marwood ''Clever and entertaining'' Jane Casey ''Original and compelling'' Mark Edwards''Terrifically assured and pulse pounding'' Stav Sherez''Taut plotting and assured writing'' Good Housekeeping''A cool and twisted debut'' Daily Mirror''She knows how to tell a cracking story'' Daily Mail''Page turning'' Guardian''Chills you to the bone'' Daily Telegraph

Not everyone who''s missing is lostHard-hitting and unputdownable, THE LOST follows Forensic psychologist Maguire back to her hometown in the search for two missing girls. This exhilarating introduction to the Paula Maguire series by Claire McGowan is sure to grip fans of Elly Griffiths and LJ Ross. ''Claire McGowan is a knockout new talent'' - Lee ChildWhen two teenage girls go missing along the Irish border, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire has to return to the hometown she left years before. Swirling with rumour and secrets, the town is gripped by fear of a serial killer. But the truth could be even darker.Not everyone who''s lost wants to be found Surrounded by people and places she tried to forget, Paula digs into the cases as the truth twists further away. What''s the link with two other disappearances from 1985? And why does everything lead back to the town''s dark past- including the reasons her own mother went missing years before?Nothing is what it seems As the shocking truth is revealed, Paula learns that sometimes, it''s better not to find what you''ve lost...What readers are saying about The Lost:''Well written and keeps you guessing. The best book I have read this year''''Fantastic read. Had me gripped from start to finish - I just couldn''t put it down. Highly recommended''''Compelling and thrilling. Claire McGowan has a clever ease of storytelling that draws you in and leaves you wanting more''

''About half way through this beautiful, expertly-stitched novel, I thought to myself, "Every woman needs to read this book"; by the end, I thought, "every human". Moving, thought-provoking and profound, it''s one of my favourite reads of the last few years'' Louise Candlish, author of Our HouseFifteen years ago, Kate walked out on her family. Moving across the world, from the suburbs of England to glamorous LA, she cut all ties to her former existence and started afresh. Her ex-husband Andrew was left to pick up the pieces, caring for their disabled daughter and angry, confused son. But Kate''s past has finally caught up with her. Now, she must return to the life she abandoned and reckon with what she did. Following a fractured family over a period of twenty years, This Could Be Us is an extraordinarily moving story of family, guilt, love and hope.''Brave, brilliantly structured, and beautifully written'' - Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us''So truthful and rewarding'' - Ian Rankin, author of the Inspector Rebus series''Captivating'' - Irish Independent

''A white-knuckle ride of a thriller'' Erin Kelly, author of The Skeleton Key

''An essential and chilling read'' Heat magazine

''A wild and page-turning thriller'' The Sun

''Perilous and gripping'' Woman & Home magazine

''Highly recommended for book clubs . . . so many talking points'' Prima magazine

YOUR BODY. THEIR CHOICE.

The Hope Party''s new laws have transformed Great Britain: the countryside rewilded, children''s rights prioritised, and births on the rise. But freedom is fading. Karen has learned to navigate this new world, keeping her head down as her fertility is constantly monitored. As her husband''s career thrives, while hers stalls. As her son is drawn into misogynist groups. Like everyone else, she''s too frightened to speak up.

Until her teenage daughter reveals a life-changing secret: she''s pregnant. With abortion and contraception banned, her future has gone up in flames. But Karen won''t let this happen - Charlotte is going to have the life she lost.

Karen turns to her sister Isobel, a doctor who''s initially reluctant to help. But when they learn Charlotte''s pregnancy is ectopic and life-threatening, the stakes skyrocket. The three women go on the run, getting deeper into danger with every hour that passes. With powerful enemies on their tail, they will risk everything in a desperate fight for freedom, and for life. The Quickening is a powerful exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and the terrifying cost of complicity. For fans of Vox, Red Clocks, and The Handmaid''s Tale.

Stolen. Missing. Dead...Forensic psychologist Paul Maguire is up against the clock to stop a merciless killer in THE DEAD GROUND, the second novel in the highly acclaimed Paula Maguire series and the gripping follow up to The Lost. Claire McGowan''s thrillers are sure to enthral readers of Michael Connelly and Karin Slaughter ''Fresh and accessible without ever compromising on grit or suspense'' - Erin KellyForensic psychologist Paula Maguire, already wrestling with the hardest decision of her life, is forced to put her own problems on hold when she''s asked to help find a baby taken from a local hospital.Then the brutal, ritualistic murder of a woman found lying on a remote stone circle indicates a connection to the kidnapping and Paula knows that they will have to move fast if they are to find the person responsible.When another child is taken and a pregnant woman goes missing, Paula finds herself caught up in a deadly hunt for a killer determined to leave no trace, and discovers every decision she makes really is a matter of life and death...What readers are saying about The Dead Ground:''Another gripping page-turner from a fabulous writer!''''Every time you think you''ve got it all worked out there will be another twist to it. Definitely worth reading''''A powerful read that touched nicely on women''s rights and pro-choice in an Irish context. Cleverly done; I felt a great deal of empathy for all concerned. An excellent read''

Some say they deserve their fate. But isn''t everyone entitled to justice?Forensic psychologist Paula Maguire is in a race against time to solve a deadly crime in THE SILENT DEAD, the third novel in Claire McGowan''s terrific, hard-hitting crime series. The perfect read for fans of Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths. ''Astonishing, powerful and immensely satisfying'' - Peter James Victim: Male. Mid-thirties. 5''7". Cause of death: Hanging. Initial impression - murder. ID: Mickey Doyle. Suspected terrorist and member of the Mayday Five.The officers at the crime scene know exactly who the victim is. Doyle was one of five suspected bombers who caused the deaths of sixteen people.The remaining four are also missing and when a second body is found, decapitated, it''s clear they are being killed by the same methods their victims suffered.Forensic psychologist Paula Maguire is assigned the case but she is up against the clock - both personally and professionally.With moral boundaries blurred between victim and perpetrator, will Paula be able to find those responsible? After all, even killers deserve justice...What readers are saying about The Silent Dead:''Great atmosphere - it''s tense and chilling. I simply did not want to put this book down. Superb fast-paced plot and wonderful storytelling''''A gripping story covering grief and frustration as it explores the moral dilemma of people failed by the system to may just be taking justice into their own hands. A great read''''Absorbing story that constantly holds your attention. Steady, tense layering, building up to the nerve-wrecking end''

Blood stains the altar. Can she be found? Paula Maguire, forensic psychologist is called in to investigate a missing girl and the disappearance of a holy relic in Claire McGowan''s exhilarating fourth novel in the series, A SAVAGE HUNTER. The Paula Maguire series is sure to enthral fans of Stuart MacBride and Lee Child.''A complex, disturbing, resonant novel that remains light on its feet and immensely entertaining'' - Irish Times Victim: Female. Twenty-two years of age. Reason for investigation: Missing person. ID: Alice Morgan. Student. Last seen at a remote religious shrine in Ballyterrin.Alice Morgan''s disappearance raises immediate questions for forensic psychologist Paula Maguire. Alice, the daughter of a life pee0r in the Home Office, has vanished along with a holy relic - the bones of a saint - and the only trace is the bloodstains on the altar.With no body to confirm death, the pressure in this high-profile case is all-consuming, and Paula knows that she will have to put her own life, including her imminent marriage, on hold, if they are to find the truth.A connection to a decades-old murder immediately indicates that all may not be as it seems; as the summer heat rises and tempers fray, can Alice be found or will they learn that those that are hungry for vengeance may be the most savage of all?What readers are saying about A Savage Hunter:''A compelling story with twists and turns, intelligently written to include history and current issues''''An excellent, well-written series, giving you an insight into the troubles that have plagued Northern Ireland and how all their lives have been affected''''I found the twisty threads really engrossing and couldn''t wait to see how they were brought to a climax. And boy, talk about explosive ending!''

A missing couple. A lurking killer. A perfect storm.Forensic psychologist Paula Maguire returns to solve a dark and dangerous case on a small Irish island in the taut and terrifying BLOOD TIDE, the fifth novel in Claire McGowan''s acclaimed series. The perfect read for fans of Joy Ellis and Karin Slaughter. ''A brilliantly executed thriller with a haunting and atmospheric setting. Spine tingling'' - Sunday Mirror Called in to investigate the disappearance of a young couple during a violent storm, Paula Maguire, forensic psychologist, has mixed feelings about going back to Bone Island. Her last family holiday as a child was spent on its beautiful, remote beaches and returning brings back haunting memories of her long-lost mother.It soon becomes clear that outsiders aren''t welcome on the island, and with no choice but to investigate the local community, Paula soon suspects foul play, realising that the islanders are hiding secrets from her, and each other.With another storm fast approaching, Paula is faced with a choice. Leave alive or risk being trapped with a killer on an inescapable island, as the blood tide rushes in...What readers are saying about Blood Tide:''A very clever plot with many shocking moments. The island setting added to the atmosphere as did the ongoing storm. What a terrific book''''I caught myself holding my breath as I followed the characters avidly. This is definitely the series that keeps on giving and keeps getting better''''A masterfully plotted and executed novel. The pace never lets up, with new developments in every chapter. An excellent read''

Long-buried secrets are being unearthed. And they''re very close to home...Forensic psychologist Paula Maguire returns yet again to her hometown to investigate a spine-chilling case in THE KILLING HOUSE, the sixth novel in Claire McGowan''s series. The Paula Maguire series is the perfect read for fans of Michael Connelly and Peter May.''A delicious spookiness is added to McGowan''s customary mix of complex characterisation and sweat-inducing excitement, offering a new level of chilling thrills'' - Sunday Mirror When a puzzling missing persons'' case opens up in her hometown, forensic psychologist Paula Maguire can''t help but return once more.Renovations at an abandoned farm have uncovered two bodies: a man known to be an IRA member missing since the nineties, and a young girl whose identity remains a mystery.As Paula attempts to discover who the girl is and why no one is looking for her, an anonymous tip-off claims that her own long-lost mother is also buried on the farm.When another girl is kidnapped, Paula must find the person responsible before more lives are destroyed. But there are explosive secrets still to surface. And even Paula can''t predict that the investigation will strike at the heart of all she holds dear.What readers are saying about the Paula Maguire series:''I have loved every single book. It''s the characters and their own personal lives that really stand out in Claire McGowan''s novels''''Claire McGowan knows how to pull us in. Her future releases are always lined up on my kindle way ahead of time!''''McGowan keeps developing her characters to be more rounded and complex. I''ve really fallen in love with the character of Paula Maguire and I can''t wait to read more about her''

They all thought she was dead. But now she’s back.Golden girl Zoe’s been dead for ten years, her body dragged from the river Black after a night out to celebrate the end of school. But now a woman who says she’s Zoe has turned up in her hometown of Blackwater, on the Irish border, with no memory of the last decade. She claims she woke up in a forest nearby, bruised and bleeding, and doesn’t know where she’s been all this time. What happened to her? Is she really Zoe? And if so, who is in her grave?Someone is hiding something. Is it Paul, who went to prison for Zoe''s murder? Zoe''s uncle Phil, a former detective superintendent with an explosive secret? Or Steve, the police office who found ''Zoe''s'' body in the river? Then there''s Zoe''s friend Danny, who wasn''t where she said she was on that night ten years ago.As they sift through their conflicting memories of that day ten years ago, they start to discover that not everyone is happy that Zoe''s back from the dead.CastZoe - Clare DunneSteve - Richard Clements Paul - Aston Kelly Phil - Sean Kearns Danny - Roisin GallagherProduced by Celia de Wolff