Rachel Abbott – författare

A girl lies close to death in a dark, deserted lane. A driver drags her body to the side of the road. A shadowy figure hides in the trees, watching and waiting. For Ellie Saunders last night's hit and run on the back road could destroy everything she has. She was out that night, but if she reveals where she was and why, her family will be torn apart. She is living on a knife-edge, knowing that her every move is being observed...Ellie's new neighbour, former Detective Chief Inspector Tom Douglas has moved to the village for some well-deserved peace and quiet, but as he is drawn into the web of deceit his every instinct tells him that what happened that night was more than a tragic accident. As past and present collide, best-kept secrets are revealed and lives are devastated. Only one person knows the whole story. And that person will protect the truth - no matter what the cost. The Back Road is an electrifying thriller that will keep you guessing to the very end.

When Laura Fletcher approaches her home in Oxfordshire to find hordes of photographers crowding the gates, she knows there is something terribly wrong. She is faced with the shocking news that her husband is dead - brutally murdered - and according to Chief Inspector Tom Douglas, there is little doubt that the murderer is a woman. In a marriage that has taken her from the glamorous five star luxury of London, Venice and Positano to a bleak and draughty manor house in rural Oxfordshire, Laura has learned to guard her secrets well. She is not alone. It would appear that all the women in her husband's life have something to hide. But there is one secret that she has never shared, and when the investigation reaches its dramatic and horrific climax, she realises that she has no choice. She has to give Tom Douglas the final piece of the puzzle. And this changes everything, leaving Douglas with a terrible dilemma: whether to punish the guilty, or protect the innocent. ONLY THE INNOCENT is a spellbinding psychological thriller that will leave you breathless!

One Dark Secret. One act of revenge. When Emma Joseph met her husband David, he was a man shattered by grief. His first wife had been killed outright when her car veered off the road. Just as tragically, their six-year-old daughter mysteriously vanished from the scene of the accident. Now, six years later, Emma believes the painful years are behind them. She and David have built a new life together and have a beautiful baby son, Ollie. Then a stranger walks into their lives, and their world tilts on its axis. Emma's life no longer feels secure. Does she know what really happened all those years ago? And why does she feel so frightened for herself and for her baby? When a desperate Emma reaches out to her old friend DCI Tom Douglas for help, she puts all their lives in jeopardy. Before long, a web of deceit is revealed that shocks both Emma and Tom to the core. They say you should never trust a stranger. Maybe they're right.

THE PERFECT MAN. OR A PERFECT STRANGER. After eighteen months of grieving for her husband Bernie, killed in a horrific hit and run accident, Natalie Gray has found love with her husband's best friend - Ed Cooper - and has moved herself and fifteen-year-old daughter, Scarlett, into his home. But Natalie begins to suspect Ed has a dark side - and even darker intentions.Desperate to get her daughter to a place of safety, she and Scarlett move to a new home that holds secrets of its own. But has removing Scarlett from one potential threat placed her in far greater danger?DCI Tom Douglas is also chasing the truth, as his investigation into the suicide of a teenage girl draws him ever closer to Natalie and Scarlett. But will he be too late to protect them from the peril they face, or from the truths that will tear their lives apart?

From the moment I open my eyes, I know. Her bed is made, the wardrobe empty. There was something she wanted to tell me, but I didn't listen.Now she's gone.'An absolute stunner of a book by a very clever author' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'Thrilling and creepy plot that keeps you turning the pages until the shocking ending' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'Kept me guessing right to the end' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'I was entranced. Perfectly formed characters, [a] grippingly tense storyline. OUTSTANDING' Angela Marsons'A real masterclass in simmering tension that builds until the shocking end.' KL Slater'One of my top reads of 2023. The tension kept me gripped until the final page.' DS ButlerEleven years ago my sister Lola vanished from my aunt's cottage in Cornwall. Now I'm back, and I'm no closer to understanding why she ran away. What secrets was she keeping?Memories come to me in snippets, but something is still missing. Then a body is discovered in a cave below the cliffs. No one knows how long it's been there. Is it Lola?The next night I wake, knowing someone is there, standing by my bed. I can hear them breathing. What do they want? Am I getting too close to the truth?Did Lola ever leave?Praise for Rachel Abbott:'What a storyteller Rachel Abbott is... I was hooked from the start' Cara Hunter'Compulsive reading' Harriet Tyce'A truly compelling, twisty, enthralling read... AMAZING!' Angela Marsons'I raced through this compelling, twisty novel.' Laura Marshall'A total delight' Daily Mail'Takes your breath away' Sun'A brilliant read, full of suspense' Closer

He believes I can do no wrong.Sadly, he's mistaken.'Irresistibly twisty, demands to be binge-read ... kept me hooked until the final, jaw-dropping pages' D. S. Butler'Relentless pacing and unexpected twists makes this a must-read.' John Marrs'Missing Vera? Here is her successor: DS Stephanie King.' Daily Mail'A modern day Agatha Christie' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reader reviewCelia, Juliette and Nadia are complete strangers with one thing in common: they have all been wronged by Ellis Cobain. A wealthy philanthropist on course for a knighthood, Ellis' public persona is bulletproof - but lurking beneath this veneer is a sinister side that only the women closest to him have seen.When they meet at a boutique hotel on the Cornish coast, brought together by the blind arrogance of their tormentor, they realise what connects them and form a pact to free themselves from his grasp.But when a body is discovered they are left scrambling, desperate to cover their tracks. This was never part of the plan.Will they keep each other's secrets, or will they turn on each other, not knowing if one of them could be next?What readers are saying:'Abbott is a master at creating suspense and mystery.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'I loved every page' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Not to be missed!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'The tension was excellent' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ More praise for Rachel Abbott: 'You won't know who to trust in this latest thriller from Abbott. Five stars.' The Sun'Tense and gripping, we read this in one sitting' Closer'A tense read' Bella'I was entranced. Perfectly formed characters, [a] grippingly tense storyline. OUTSTANDING' Angela Marsons'A real masterclass in simmering tension that builds until the shocking end.' KL Slater'What a storyteller Rachel Abbott is... I was hooked from the start' Cara Hunter'Compulsive reading' Harriet Tyce'I raced through this compelling, twisty novel.' Laura Marshall

WHO WILL BELIEVE YOUR STORY IF THE ONLY WITNESS IS DEAD?'So different, so superbly written. At no point did I know the ending' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ REAL READER REVIEW'Rachel has done what she is best at...leaving me on the edge of my seat, unable to do anything else until I've read the entire book' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ REAL READER REVIEW'I read it in a day - every page brought more twists and turns' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ REAL READER REVIEW'What a storyteller Rachel Abbott is... I was hooked from the start' CARA HUNTER'A truly compelling, twisty, enthralling and satisfying read... Absolutely AMAZING!' ANGELA MARSONSCleo knows she should be happy for her brother Mark. He's managed to find someone new after the sudden death of his first wife - but something about Evie just doesn't feel right...When Evie starts having accidents at home, her friends grow concerned. Could Mark be causing her injuries? Called out to their cliff-top house one night, Sergeant Stephanie King finds two bodies entangled on blood-drenched sheets.Where does murder begin? When the knife is raised to strike, or before, at the first thought of violence? As the accused stands trial, the jury is forced to consider - is there ever a proper defence for murder?More praise for AND SO IT BEGINS:'I raced through this compelling, twisty novel. Loved it' Laura Marshall'Brilliant... The twists came so quickly I almost got whiplash' Jenny Blackhurst'An unnerving, twisting tale that you won't be able to put down' Caroline Mitchell'Rachael Abbott has delivered another intricately plotted thriller that never falters on tension or pace ... the suspense doesn't let up until the very last page' Michelle Davies'A breathless tour-de-force that left me hungry for more... Psychological crime writing at its very best' Kate Rhodes'The definition of addictive - Rachel Abbott's best book yet. Kept me up until the small hours - and you won't see the ending coming' Phoebe Morgan'Really gripping and menacing - compulsive reading' Harriet Tyce

EVERYONE IS INVITED. EVERYONE MUST PLAY THE GAME.'When I say full of twists and turns I mean it. A compulsive powerful dark read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'My thriller of the year' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW'A total delight' Daily Mail'Takes your breath away' Sun'A brilliant read, full of suspense' CloserA year ago today, we all gathered for Lucas's wedding at his glorious Cornish home overlooking the sea.But no one was married that day.Now Lucas has invited us back to celebrate the anniversary. But the anniversary of what? The wedding that never happened, or the tragedy that occurred just hours before the ceremony was due to begin?He's told us that tonight he has planned a game. We have our costumes, we have our parts, and everyone must play. The game, he tells us, is about to begin.What does Lucas want from us? What are we not being told? And what's going to happen when this terrible game is over?Praise for Rachel Abbott:'Really gripping and menacing - compulsive reading' Harriet Tyce'What a storyteller Rachel Abbott is... I was hooked from the start' Cara Hunter'I raced through this compelling, twisty novel. Loved it' Laura Marshall'A twisty-turny plot that had my head reeling, and my mind full of intrigue. Superb plotting from the mistress of suspense' Mel Sherratt'A grand re-imagining of the best kind of crime caper, filled with underlying tensions, fancy rooms and a detective hungry for answers' Magic Radio: April Book Club Pick'Fantastic and gripping - I loved the intriguing concept and the brilliantly atmospheric Cornish setting' Karen Hamilton'This gallops along at a cracking pace, and manages to keep the twists and surprises coming thick and fast' Crime Monthly

They will be coming soon. They come every night. Snow is falling softly as a young woman takes her last breath.Fifteen miles away, two women sit silently in a dark kitchen. They don't speak, because there is nothing left to be said.Another woman boards a plane to escape the man who is trying to steal her life. But she will have to return, sooner or later.These strangers have one thing in common. They each made one bad choice - and now they have no choices left. Soon they won't be strangers, they'll be family...When DCI Tom Douglas is called to the cold, lonely scene of a suspicious death, he is baffled. Who is she? Where did she come from? How did she get there?How many more must die? Who is controlling them, and how can they be stopped?

Yesterday, Scott was dead. Today, he's back. And Anna doesn't believe in ghosts. Scott was Anna's boyfriend. She loved him, but he ruined her life. When he died, she should have been free, but today Scott is on the radio, threatening to spill her secrets. Anna is a mother, a wife, and head teacher of a primary school.And she's a good liar.She made one mistake, and now she is having to pay for it. Scott is the only person who knows the truth about her past, but how can he be alive?Soon, DCI Tom Douglas is going to knock on her door looking for answers. But Anna is already running scared: from the man she loved; the man she watched die; the man who has come back to life. She has one week to find him. One week to stop him.

Some doors should not be opened. Some doors can never be closed. Jo Palmer's peaceful and happy life is about to end. Ash - the man she loves - will be arrested by the police. Millie - her precious daughter - will be taken from her. She will lose her friends. She will doubt her sanity. Someone is stealing everything Jo loves, and will stop at nothing. But right now, Jo is laughing in her kitchen, eating dinner with her family, suspecting nothing. It's raining outside. There's a knock on the door. They are here. A DCI Tom Douglas Thriller

Don't let him under your skin. He'll destroy you.Don't fight him. He'll win.Run. Never let him find you. I thought I was safe here, but I'm not. I've stayed too long. Now Genevieve is dead, and the police are on their way. It's time for me to go. I must stick to the plan - the one I made the day I arrived in this city. My bag is packed. It always is. I will destroy every shred of evidence of my existence. The police must never find me. If they do, so will he. I made a mistake, and someone had to die. But I'm the one who has truly lost her life. I need to make a choice. If I keep running, I'll never stop. If I go back, he will make me suffer. How many lives can one person ruin? A Tom Douglas thriller

It would be unfair to blame the woman I met tonight for turning my life upside down. She didn't. It was already upside down. I just didn't know it. Recently life has been good for Mallory Hansen: a great job, a lovely home, and a wonderful man, Nathan, to share it with. But now she must ask herself: is it all built on lies?A terrible accusation has been made against Nathan, and Mallory doesn't know who to believe. All the signs point to his guilt. She has learned to trust Nathan, but she also remembers the boy he used to be.Together, Mallory and Nathan were part of a close-knit group of six friends until a vicious argument drove them apart. Now, fifteen years later, they are back in touch - only to find themselves drawn into a web of mutual distrust, one by one...The attacks on their lives are cleverly targeted, designed to hit them where they hurt the most, and when a young woman disappears and a baby is abducted, DCI Tom Douglas must try to unravel the past and discover who is the architect of their misery.A DCI Tom Douglas Thriller

No rules. No choice. No turning back. He played by the rules - until the only rule that mattered was survival. Recovering from a gunshot wound that nearly cost him his life, DCI Tom Douglas isn't focused on himself - his concern is for his brother Jack, who seems to have vanished without a trace. Jack's past is as dangerous as it is complicated. Years ago, he faked his own death to escape an organised crime group, and ever since, he's been living in the shadows, always one step ahead of those who want to hunt him down. Now, Tom's worst fears are coming true. Has Jack's past finally caught up with him? And what does that mean for his family? Tom has to find them, but the answers he seeks are hidden in a brutal underworld - one more threatening than anything Tom has faced before. With time running out and his own life on the line, Tom must decide how far he's willing to go and how much he's prepared to sacrifice, knowing it will mean crossing a line he swore he never would. But there is another player in this game - one who will stop at nothing to find the answers she seeks. And if Tom makes the wrong move, he, and everyone he loves, will lose. He's spent his life chasing criminals. But to save his family, he might have to become one.