First One to Die

DCI Matilda Darke returns with another pulse-pounding case in October 2026!

Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths

‘A master of horror and suspense’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A KILLER CONFESSION

When journalist Danny Hanson answers a call from someone with blood on their hands and a story to share, he tells himself it's the breakthrough of his career. He should have asked himself a different question. Not what could go wrong. But what already has.

THE CALL YOU NEVER FORGET

DCI Matilda Darke is used to the unexpected. But when her phone lights up in the dead of night, the face staring back at her is the last one she could imagine. But their message is deadly.

A RACE AGAINST TIME

This person knows her secrets. They know her team. And as a suspicious package threatens her case, Matilda is forced to ask herself; is the killer close to home?

Praise for Michael Wood

'One of the best books ever, in one of the best series ever! It is THAT good!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow what a book… I adore this series and every book is better and better’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book sets off at a hundred miles an hour and never lets off… this is my favourite detective series’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Exciting, tense and compelling… shocking and brilliant’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow! Wow! Wow! The twists keep on coming to the last page’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I don’t have words! Wow just wow! This blew me away. DCI Matilda Darke and her team are my favourite detectives’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book had a bit of everything… some crazy twists and turns’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Another cracking, nail-biting read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

Michael Wood is a freelance journalist and proofreader living in Newcastle. As a journalist he covered many crime stories throughout Sheffield, gaining first-hand knowledge of police procedure. He also reviews books for CrimeSquad, a website dedicated to crime fiction.