Mark Edwards's Blog

Pre-order The Wasp Trap special signed and dedicated edition from either of my two independent bookshop partners and you’ll not only get a signed, dedicated first edition hardback of The Wasp Trap, but you’ll also receive the following:

A gold foil bookmark with shiny wasps on one side and the house from the cover on the otherAccess to a private, exclusive Facebook group, The Mark Edwards Elite Readers Club* (Email mark@markedwardsauthor.com after making your purchase telling Mark that you’ve bought the book.)A special stamp inside the book to commemorate and prove this special first edition, first printing. One stamp shows Booka Books and the other shows The Heath Bookshop.1 in 5 will also contain a ‘wasp’ doodle, hand-drawn by Mark alongside his signature.

Order now from The Heath Bookshop

Order now from Booka Books

Please note: if you are outside the UK, you can place an order but please be aware that shipping is expensive. Readers in the USA might want to wait for the signed American edition, which will be announced in due course.

For an international postage quote from the Heath Bookshop, please email hello@theheathbookshop.co.uk
International orders can be placed on the Booka Books site and international shipping will be added automatically

As well as getting a fantastic, collectible item, by ordering now you will be helping to support two excellent independent bookshops that are an important part of their communities and run by book lovers just like you.

*Membership of The Mark Edwards Elite Readers Club is open to anyone who preorders The Wasp Trap in any format, from any shop, in any country. For an invitation, please email mark@markedwardsauthor.com with details of where you bought your copy.

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Mark’s new psychological thriller, The Psychopath Next Door, will be published worldwide on January 28th 2025. Available as an ebook, paperback or audiobook, you can pre-order it now. This book is set in The Magpies universe, with at least one returning character from that series, but can also be enjoyed as a standalone. Here’s the blurb:

Ethan Dove’s family has moved to a new home in a safe community, and it’s exactly the fresh start they need. Not only is his marriage to Emma hanging by a thread, but his son, Dylan, and twelve-year-old daughter, Rose, deserve to have a happy childhood.

After Rose is bullied by the boys across the road, Ethan is relieved when the woman who lives next door steps in. Fiona Smith has come into their lives at just the right moment, and when she offers to look after Rose during the school holidays, Ethan and Emma can’t believe their luck.

Which is exactly what Fiona wants. Because, far from being the perfect neighbour, Fiona is the last person you should trust with your child. With a vicious plot for revenge, Fiona is happy to train Rose to be her accomplice, especially when she begins to suspect that Rose might not be as innocent as she appears…

Mark will be hosting a live launch party on his Facebook page on publication day.

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I am thrilled to announce that I have a signed a deal with Penguin Michael Joseph!

The first book in this deal is called The Wasp Trap, and it will be published in the UK in summer 2025. (International news to follow!) If you’re in the UK, click here to join the pre-sale and get your hands on a very special signed hardback edition as soon as it’s released. Outside the UK, go here to be informed when the book is going to be published where you are.

The Wasp Trap

A hot summer that ended in tragedy.

An eccentric psychology professor specialising in psychopaths.

An unexpected invitation.

A killer hiding in plain sight.

Are you ready to enter The Wasp Trap?

Pre-order now on Amazon

Pre-order now on Waterstones

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No cover yet, but the blurb for my next novel THE DARKEST WATER, is on Amazon. It’s out worldwide on Feb 27 as an ebook, paperback and audiobook. To pre-order simply search your local Amazon for ‘Mark Edwards darkest water’.”In this chilling thriller from the bestselling author of Keep Her Secret, if you don’t take your dark secrets to the grave, maybe they’ll take you there first…

Calvin finally owns the bakery of his dreams, in an idyllic village in the Lake District. After reluctantly following his wife Vicky’s advice to promote it on social media, he’s thrilled when a viral clip makes him a legend overnight. But then the creepy DMs start flooding in—all from a stranger who claims she’s his biggest fan.

Meanwhile, a local recluse is found on a nearby beach, buried to his neck and left to drown, and the community goes into shock. Why would anyone want him dead? And who exactly was he?

Detective Imogen Evans, new to the Lake District, is under pressure to find out before the killer strikes again. As the murder hunt gathers pace, Calvin’s obsessive admirer turns up right on cue after his assistant is injured in an accident, and to Vicky’s horror she’s here to stay. As events begin spiralling into darkness, is there anyone in this quiet backwater Calvin can trust—or have his mistakes already put him, and everyone he loves, in terrible danger?”

The post New book update! The Darkest Water is available for pre-order on Amazon appeared first on Mark Edwards.

Save the date. I’ve been trying to persuade John Marrs to do a live event for years and he has finally agreed!

So on the afternoon of Saturday, October 21, we will be appearing at Books On The Hill in St Albans with Fiona Cummins, chaired by Tracy Fenton, and it’s going to be so much fun.

This could be your one and only chance to see John and it will also be my last event of 2023.

Ticket details and further information will be revealed very soon.

The post Save the date! Me, John Marrs and Fiona Cummins live. . . appeared first on Mark Edwards.

This is it. The event I’ve been waiting for my whole life. Me, MC’ing the karaoke party at a crime festival!This is your chance to join me, lots of other insanely-competitive mic-grabbing writers and loads of your fellow readers as we shake it off, dance in the dark, let it go and hopefully see the whole of the moon together.This event is just the icing on the cake of what promises to be an incredible day for crime fiction fans.70 authors including loads of big names.Panels all day (I’ll be appearing on one as well as running the karaoke).A murder mystery play for those of you who don’t like singing or listening to other people murder good songs.All in the beautiful setting of the Chilterns. It’s going to be a perfect day – and you’ll be glad you spent it with us.Chiltern Kills takes place in Gerrards Cross on 7th October. Tickets are on sale now. Go on, treat yourself before it sells out. Click here to get tickets.

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It’s still rather early to be mentioning Christmas but this is book party is an event I’m really excited about!

There are going to be lots of great authors there, including my birthday twin John Marrs, and the venue is really special to me because it’s where I got married!

Join me and a host of other bestselling authors for a festive and bookish celebration on Saturday, November 25th. It’s taking place at The Old Library in Birmingham which was built in 1866, and lovingly restored in the 20th century. It’s the perfect venue for A Christmas Book Party! Tickets include a welcome drink and a Christmas gift bag.

Author announcements and more surprises will be revealed over the coming weeks. . . Don’t miss out!

The Old Library is located in the heart of Digbeth, Birmingham’s Creative Quarter, just quarter of a mile from Birmingham City Centre, and is easily reached by public transport, foot or car.

Hope to see some of you there. Full details are here.

 

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I’ve been a little bit quiet lately because I’ve been busy finishing this – my next novel!And good news. . .  you’re not going to have to wait too long.THE DARKEST WATER is out on February 27, 2024.It’s a standalone set in the Lake District, and features a returning character: DI Imogen Evans from The Lucky Ones.THE DARKEST WATER starts with a man found buried up to his neck and left to drown on a beach – and no one knows who he was. Meanwhile, a coffee shop owner called Calvin attracts unwanted attention after reluctantly joining social media. Sin, guilt, stalking, murder, parasocial relationships…and Britpop! More details will be revealed over the coming months. Hope you’re excited!

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Any aspiring or emerging writers in or near Birmingham, I will be appearing at the National Writers’ Conference this Saturday alongside many experts.

I think I would have found events like this invaluable when I was starting out. Full details and tickets here.

Here’s the event in brief: Knowing how the writing world works can help all of us make the most of our writing. Join us for a friendly day of presentations and panel discussions, focusing on how writers can find the best ways to develop their talents.

Subjects will include:

How publishing worksWriting for theatre and audioDigital & self-publishingNon-fiction publishing

Come along, ask questions, share answers and be part of a vibrant network of writers form across the country, working in many forms and genres.

You can find the full programme by clicking here.

The post Budding authors – Come and see me at the National Writers’ Conference appeared first on Mark Edwards.

I’m out an about again and I have another event to tell you about!

On Thursday, July 27th I’ll be appearing in conversation with Claire Douglas in her hometown of Bath at Waterstones.

We’ll be talking about writing psychological thrillers and I guarantee it will be an entertaining evening, followed by a book signing and your chance to meet us both.

I will, of course, be giving out pens! Tickets are on sale now. This is my ONLY event in the south west this year so if you live in that area this will be your one chance to hear me talk, meet me and get a free pen.

Book tickets here.

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