The Guilty Party

‘MASTERFUL’ Guardian
‘IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT’ Erin Kelly
‘UTTERLY COMPELLING’Crime Monthly
‘5*’ Heat
’WELL-CRAFTED AND CHILLING’ Woman
‘MCGRATH IS A DIAMOND-HARD TALENT’ Financial Times

On a night out, four friends witness a stranger in trouble. They decide to do nothing to help.

Later, a body washes up on the banks of the Thames – and the group realises that ignoring the woman has left blood on their hands.

But why did each of them refuse to step in? Why did none of them want to be noticed that night? Who is really responsible?

And is it possible that the victim was not really a stranger at all?

Praise for Mel McGrath:

‘This roller-coaster read will have you hooked’ Closer

‘This well-crafted, chilling tale of guilt and innocence has a compelling moral anchor’ Woman

‘Lots of twists and turns in this toxic thriller.’ Hello!

‘A dextrously written thriller and examination of guilt and innocence…[McGrath is] a diamond-hard talent’ Financial Times

‘McGrath excels in creating believably flawed characters, and her masterful control of suspense and pacing make for a psychological thriller that is both perceptive and disturbing’ Guardian

‘Unsettling, disturbing and vital. 5*’ Heat

‘Exploring guilt and innocence through several dark distinct perspectives, Cassie becomes a compelling moral anchor in this well-crafted and chilling tale’ Woman’s Own

‘Easily the best [of the subgenre]…psychologically acute and deeply satisfying’ Telegraph

‘Perceptive…McGrath is a thoughtful writer’ Daily Mail

‘Utterly compelling right from the start…a deeply unsettling look at modern sexual behaviour and bystander culture’ Crime Monthly

‘Chilling, fiendishly plotted and surprising, this stayed with me long after reading’ Woman & Home

‘Absorbing … McGrath asks: should it be a crime to witness a violent event, and say nothing?’ The Times

‘Brimming with trust issues and deceit, this will make you question whether we ever know who our friends really are’ Prima

‘A clever, nuanced exploration of toxic friendship and the ties that bind people together’ Red

‘Dark, thrilling, impossible to predict’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said She Said

‘A scorching, clever thriller’ Tammy Cohen, author of They All Fall Down

‘A dark and immersive journey into the heart of a toxic friendship group. I loved it.’ Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange

About the author

Mel McGrath is an Essex girl, co-founder of Killer Women, and an award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction. As MJ McGrath she writes the acclaimed Edie Kiglatuk series of Arctic mysteries, which were twice longlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and Times and Financial Times thrillers of the year. As Melanie McGrath she wrote the critically acclaimed, bestselling memoir Silvertown. As Mel McGrath she is the author of the bestselling psychological thriller Give Me The Child.

The Guilty Party is her latest novel.