Thanks to NetGalley and Grace Edward’s @ one more chapter, for inviting me to read and review this book.

Detective Matilda Darke is still suffering after losing her family to a serial killer in the previous book. She has left Sheffield and is staying with old friends while she tries to recover. On swimming she notices a number plate, which relates to a cold case, in which twin young girls disappeared. Despite best intentions, Matilda can’t help herself investigating.

Wow this was powerful. Matilda is a shadow of her former self and this comes across really well. Although the old Matilda fire is really showing towards the end of the book. It was interesting to see Matilda without her team, but I did miss Sian, Scott and Christian! It was lovely to see a former character return and also to see what had become of Carl and the Woodys! This was an exciting one with so many twists and tales. I had decided on so many different endings before the truth was revealed. I enjoy the authors style of writing, where there are no happy endings and you are kept guessing right until the very end. Suspense was rife and I was at the edge of my seat. It was difficult to put this down and function throughout the day as it had me hooked from the start. Matilda is my favourite character and this book series is the best ever! I’m slightly gutted to be finished and see that it’ll be autumn 2026 until we meet again! Although with the after word from Michael Wood, I’m not sure I’m going to like what’s next in store for a Matilda.

This one works as standalone, as the major storylines a new reader might have missed, are briefly recounted. However, I would highly recommend reading them all in order ASAP!

Genuinely the best book series I’ve read-cannot recommend enough!

I’m always excited to read a new instalment in the Matilda Darke series and so was thrilled to get the opportunity to read Worse than Murder. Matilda has left Sheffield, traumatised and grieving, seeking refuge with Phil, Sally and Carl Meaghan in the Lake District. She is soon approached for help by PC Alison Pemberton whose twin sisters went missing 30 years ago and have never been found. Matilda is reluctant at first but with the help of a local journalist soon finds herself investigating the cold case.
I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this as much as the Sheffield set novels but I absolutely loved it and raced through it over the course of 24 hours. I loved the Lake District setting and although I missed Sian and the rest of the team I enjoyed getting to know Alison and her colleagues. I love crime novels featuring cold cases and the compelling plot completely captured my interest. As ever Matilda continues to fascinate me and I look forward to seeing if she returns to Sheffield in the next book.
Highly recommended. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

Completely and utterly brilliant! ‘
Couldn’t put it down’, ‘page turner’ and ‘hooked’ aren’t all just platitudes when talking about a Matilda Darke book, they’re the ONLY way to describe my experience when reading one. Not sure how I’m going to wait until Autumn 26 for the next instalment!

Wow!! I think this one may be my favourite yet!!
I was so nervous picking this one up after my heart was completely shattered in the last book I was hoping book 12 was all a dream
I wasn’t expecting Matilda to be in hiding the emotions I felt I cried a lot! And I know book 14 is going to be the end of me I’m so invested in this series I feel so connected to the characters
I loved the difference of this one it gave matilda and me more time to grieve the events of book 12. I do like how even in hiding and refusing to be a DCI she still managed to find trouble and solved a 30 year old murder. The last couple of chapters I was so on edge I split stress ball! This was yet again another masterpiece I read it in a day as I refused to put it down. It really does have everything you need in an amazing crime thriller and so much more I liked the new characters I found the crime shocking and the red herons i happily followed till my
Mind was completely blown away!! I think my heart is still racing while writing this!! I now have the long wait for book 14 also I can’t believe we are on book 14 it’s such an outstanding series I think everyone needs to read

MICHAEL WOOD YOU OWE ME THERAPY

Oh my god, what did I just read? I was invited to read this book this morning, it’s now 4pm and I’m still in my pyjamas. I couldn’t stop reading this. Matilda has been through hell and there is no sign of that letting up. I am in awe of the emotion, the power of Woods writing. The way he delivers a gut punch and makes you feel like these characters, these made up people are your closest friends. I loved going back to the Meagans and how they were interwoven to this story. The story was incredible. The intricate plotting, slowly unraveling things. I really felt I was by Matilda’s side in this. Once again I was fooled and didn’t work it out. That doesn’t happen often. I’m a Michael Wood fan girl for life.