Kia Abdullah – författare

‘A gripping legal thriller that will leave you reeling. A book that will stay with you long after the last page. The ending is a stunner!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘This was a roller coaster of a book, an immersive read, a sublime plot with very open and direct dialogue. Expertly written and highly recommended’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Kia Abdullah is the absolute queen of the courtroom drama’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘WOW!! This book is astonishingly brilliant! An absolute masterpiece’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐* * * * ON AN ORDINARY WORKING DAY… Leila Syed receives a call that cleaves her life in two. Her brother-in-law’s voice is filled with panic. His son’s nursery has called to ask where little Max is. YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE… Leila was supposed to drop Max off that morning. But she forgot.Racing to the carpark, she grasps the horror of what she has done. IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE… What follows is an explosive, high-profile trial that will tear the family apart. But as the case progresses it becomes clear there’s more to this incident than meets the eye… A gripping, brave and tense courtroom drama, Next of Kin will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, heart-stopping page. * * * * Praise for Kia Abdullah ‘Abdullah’s legal thrillers make John Grisham seem like a maiden aunt’ Sunday Times Crime Club‘An enthralling, heartbreaking and thrilling courtroom drama that had me shouting out loud and gripped until the last page’ Nadine Matheson, author of The Jigsaw Man‘Brilliantly tense, this is another clever page turner from Kia Abdullah that I couldn’t put down. Just superb’ Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City‘Twists and turns aplenty … The author’s greatest strength lies in her sensitive and relatable description of the relationship between sisters Leila and Max’s mother Yasmin’ i‘A tense, brilliant read’ Bella

Don’t miss the brand-new gripping thriller and courtroom drama full of twists and turns that will keep you up at night! * Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and The Twisted Dagger CWA award! * ‘An impeccable blend of courtroom drama, mystery thriller and social commentary … a true masterpiece’ Andrea Mara'Timely … Suspenseful and unpredictable' iPaper 'A brilliantly thought-provoking read' Crime Monthly'The kind of crime fiction that eventually becomes social history' Literary Review* * * *Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover …* * * * Praise for Kia Abdullah ‘One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars’ Lisa Jewell‘Terrific and hugely thought-provoking’ Ian Rankin‘Rich in drama and intrigue. Kept me turning the pages long into the night. Bloody superb’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good'Abdullah draws out the truth with compassion, charting with notable understanding the ever-changing currents in human relations’ The Times‘Timely and powerful, Abdullah’s fourth novel lets no one off the hook’ Guardian‘Gripping’ Woman’s Weekly

‘A superb legal thriller…crackles with tension’ Guardian‘A topical and gritty story’ Observer'A thought-provoking and sparklingly intelligent novel, with the welcome bonus of an unguessable ending’ Daily Telegraph‘Razor-sharp…Much more than a courtroom thriller’ Christina Dalcher, Sunday Times bestselling author of VOX* * * * *IT’S TIME TO TAKE YOUR PLACE ON THE JURY.The victim: A sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, neglected by an alcoholic mother. Who accuses the boys of something unthinkable.The defendants: Four handsome teenage boys from hardworking immigrant families. All with corroborating stories.WHOSE SIDE WOULD YOU TAKE?* * * * *Readers are giving Take It Back five stars:‘The perfect book club read … will make for lively, thought-provoking discussions’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A skilfully written book that offers a big punch’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘You will feel like you are enveloped in this case and the unseen juror’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Brilliant, powerful, moving and intelligent’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Just when you think you've guessed correctly another twist appears’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A genuine five-star read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A brilliantly compelling, tense and thought-provoking read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Shortlisted for The Diverse Book Awards 2021‘Bold and brave, shocking and heartfelt . . . A very special book from a very special author’ Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month We Begin at the End‘Abdullah's legal thrillers make John Grisham seem like a maiden aunt’ Sunday Times Crime Club‘Vividly examines some of the issues that shape (and deform) society . . . A gritty, extremely hard-hitting drama’ Adele Parks, Platinum magazine‘A masterpiece [and] a triumph . . . When you get to the final chapters, buckle up . . . She writes with such intelligence, research and compassion’ Daily Record* * * * *ARE YOU READY TO START THIS CONVERSATION?Kamran Hadid feels invincible. He attends Hampton school, an elite all-boys boarding school in London, he comes from a wealthy family, and he has a place at Oxford next year. The world is at his feet. And then a night of revelry leads to a drunken encounter and he must ask himself a horrific question.With the help of assault counsellor, Zara Kaleel, Kamran reports the incident in the hopes that will be the end of it. But it’s only the beginning… Powerful, explosive and important, Truth Be Told is a contemporary courtroom drama that vividly captures today’s society. You will not stop thinking about it for a long time to come. * * * * * More praise for Truth Be Told: ‘The court scenes are pacy and atmospheric, and there is more than one unexpected twist’ i‘Brave, compelling and absolutely riveting’ A A Dhand, bestselling author of Streets of Darkness‘Tense, harrowing and brilliantly written. A powerful story’ Khurrum Rahman, author of East of Hounslow‘An excellent and intelligent novel’ The Literary Review‘A deeply profound and thought-provoking read’ Heat

‘A gripping page-turner about nightmare neighbours’ Platinum ‘A small act of malice between suburban neighbours snowballs, bringing tension and terror. Terrific and hugely thought-provoking’ Ian Rankin ‘One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars’ Lisa Jewell * Waterstones Thriller of the Month – August 2023 * ‘Intelligent, clever, poignant, sharp, and thought-provoking, right through to the perfect final line. Another sure hit for Kia Abdullah’ Andrea Mara‘Brilliantly pacey and wonderfully written with a lovely big twist. Highly recommended’ Neil Lancaster* * * You can choose your house. Not your neighbours. WELCOME TO YOUR DREAM HOME…Salma Khatun is extremely hopeful about Blenheim, the safe suburban development to which she, her husband and their son have just moved. Their family is in desperate need of a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like the place to make that happen.MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURS…Not long after they move in, Salma spots her neighbour, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner her son put in their front garden. She chooses not to confront Tom because she wants to fit in. It's a small thing, really. No need to make a fuss. So Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window instead. But the next morning she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint.AND PREPARE FOR THE NIGHTMARE TO BEGIN…This time she does confront Tom, and the battle lines between the two families are drawn. As things begin to escalate and the stakes become higher, it's clear that a reckoning is coming… And someone is going to get hurt. A gripping thriller about nightmare neighbours, Those People Next Door explores the loss of innocence and how far we’re prepared to go to defend ourselves and the people we love. * * * Praise for Those People Next Door: ‘This powerful social drama about racism and microaggression in today’s society is a must-read’ Prima‘A stunning, thought-provoking and morally challenging read. It had me guessing until the ingenious reveal – a world-class story’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good‘A tense, clever tale about the seething underbelly of a picture-perfect suburban town’ Country and Town House

* Waterstones Thriller of the Month *'Abdullah's legal thrillers make John Grisham seem like a maiden aunt' Sunday Times Crime Club

‘Terrific and hugely thought-provoking’ Ian Rankin ‘One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars’ Lisa Jewell * Waterstones Thriller of the Month – August 2023 * * * * You can choose your house. Not your neighbours. WELCOME TO YOUR DREAM HOME … Salma Khatun is extremely hopeful about Blenheim, the safe suburban development to which she, her husband and their son have just moved. Their family needs a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like the right place. MEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURS … Shortly after they move in, Salma spots her neighbour, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner in their front garden. Choosing not to confront Tom, Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window. But the next morning she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint. AND PREPARE FOR THE NIGHTMARE TO BEGIN … This time she does confront Tom, and the battle lines between the two families are drawn. As things begin to escalate and the stakes become higher, it's clear that a reckoning is coming… And someone is going to get hurt. A gripping thriller about nightmare neighbours, Those People Next Door explores the loss of innocence and how far we’d go to defend ourselves and the people we love. * * * Readers are GRIPPED by Those People Next Door ‘Impossible to put down’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘An incredibility evocative, intense, and impactful book’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A powerfully impactful and thought-provoking thriller’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Kia Abdullah smashed all my expectations with this relentlessly gripping thriller that held me in its thrall from first page to last’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Don’t miss the brand-new gripping thriller and courtroom drama full of twists and turns that will keep you up at night! * Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and The Twisted Dagger CWA award! * ‘An impeccable blend of courtroom drama, mystery thriller and social commentary … a true masterpiece’ Andrea Mara'Timely … Suspenseful and unpredictable' iPaper 'A brilliantly thought-provoking read' Crime Monthly'The kind of crime fiction that eventually becomes social history' Literary Review* * * *Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover …* * * * Praise for Kia Abdullah ‘One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars’ Lisa Jewell‘Terrific and hugely thought-provoking’ Ian Rankin‘Rich in drama and intrigue. Kept me turning the pages long into the night. Bloody superb’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good'Abdullah draws out the truth with compassion, charting with notable understanding the ever-changing currents in human relations’ The Times‘Timely and powerful, Abdullah’s fourth novel lets no one off the hook’ Guardian‘Gripping’ Woman’s Weekly

Don’t miss the brand-new gripping thriller and courtroom drama full of twists and turns that will keep you up at night! * Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and The Twisted Dagger CWA award! * ‘An impeccable blend of courtroom drama, mystery thriller and social commentary … a true masterpiece’ Andrea Mara'Timely … Suspenseful and unpredictable' iPaper 'A brilliantly thought-provoking read' Crime Monthly'The kind of crime fiction that eventually becomes social history' Literary Review* * * *Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover …* * * * Praise for Kia Abdullah ‘One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars’ Lisa Jewell‘Terrific and hugely thought-provoking’ Ian Rankin‘Rich in drama and intrigue. Kept me turning the pages long into the night. Bloody superb’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good'Abdullah draws out the truth with compassion, charting with notable understanding the ever-changing currents in human relations’ The Times‘Timely and powerful, Abdullah’s fourth novel lets no one off the hook’ Guardian‘Gripping’ Woman’s Weekly