Sometimes People Die

‘A riveting read’ Sunday Times, Crime Book of the Year

‘A smartly-paced thriller’ Evening Standard

‘Dramatic, unnerving… exceptional’ The Sun

*SELECTED FOR BBC’S BETWEEN THE COVERS*
*A NEW YORK TIMES Editor’s Pick*
*THE SUNDAY TIMES’ Crime Book of the Year*
*THE GUARDIAN’s Best Recent Crime and Thrillers*
*THE EVENING STANDARD’s Best New Books of 2022*
*THE TIMES’ Best Crime Books of 2022*
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The year is 1999. Returning to practice after a suspension for stealing opioids, a young Scottish doctor takes the only job he can find: a post as a senior house officer in the struggling east London hospital of St Luke’s.

Amid the maelstrom of sick patients, over-worked staff and underfunded wards a darker secret soon declares itself: too many patients are dying.

Which of the medical professionals our protagonist has encountered is behind the murders? And can our unnamed narrator’s version of the events be trusted?

‘A delightful read. The serial killer plotline is an added bonus. I loved it’ Kathy Reichs, the #1 New York Times bestseller

Reviews

‘Had me hooked within 20 pages and held me there until the very end. I read it in 4 days’ Sophie Raworth, broadcaster and journalist

‘Dark and haunting, powerful and propulsive… a smart, cinematic, tour de force written by an exceptional talent. Simply unputdownable’ Lara Prescott, New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets We Kept

‘The witty writing, quirky protagonist, and anecdotal descriptions of real-life medical villains combine to make Sometimes People Die a delightful read. I loved it’ Kathy Reichs, the #1 New York Times bestseller

‘Sometimes People Die blew me away and cost me a night's sleep as I read it on tenterhooks… Revelatory [and…] thrilling, this astounding novel announces the arrival of a new Michael Crichton for the zeitgeist’ Ken Bruen, author of The Guards

‘An absolute killer… for people who wouldn’t normally read a thriller or a murder mystery, this is the perfect gateway book… so entertaining’ Sara Cox, BBC2 Between The Covers

‘A moody thriller… slow-burning… authoritative, unsparing’ The New York Times – Editor’s Pick

‘‘Why do I adore this kind of novel? It is intelligent, very witty in a very dark way, and does not flinch from serious and difficult questions.’
The Scotsman

‘Darkly hilarious… this will be a best book of the year for me.’ Book Page, October’s Top Pick in Mystery

Diabolical and quick-witted… not to be missed’ Crime Reads, 10 Books You Should Read This September

‘Like an Adam Kay murder mystery’ Al Murray, BBC2 Between The Covers

‘Insightful, gripping, unexpectedly funny’ Saga Magazine

‘In Stephenson, Vonnegut may have his first true protégé’ Washington Post

‘A real old school page-turner I found difficult to put down.’ Yorkshire Magazine