Join Mark's Readers Club
Complete the form to join Mark’s Readers Club and get your FREE download of Mark’s Short Sharp Shockers PLUS a special Reading Group Guide to The Wasp Trap which includes discussion points, playlists, a dinner party menu and ‘which character are you?’ quiz.
FREE box set of short stories
Join the Readers Club to download a FREE box set of four thrilling stories, plus all the latest news, book releases, special offers and giveaways – and a special Reading Group Guide to The Wasp Trap, containing discussion points, playlists, a menu so you can plan your own Wasp Trap dinner party and a fun ‘which character are you?’ quiz so you can find out if you’re the psychopath.
Includes three short, sharp shockers:
Consenting Adults
Private investigator Edward Rooney is hired to find a missing young woman… and uncovers a shocking secret.
Guardian Angel
Laura loves reading the Missed Connections messages in her local paper. Until one of the messages is aimed at her…
Kissing Games
Two schoolboys dare each other to spend a night in an abandoned psychiatric hospital, unaware that one of the former inmates is back – and that she likes young boys…
Plus, special bonus story:
Wish You Dead
What’s the worst thing you can do when your heart’s been broken? Find out in this tribute to The Monkey’s Paw.
30 years ago, when I started writing, I dreamed of seeing my book on tables in Waterstones and now it’s happened - with bells on! I’m thrilled to announce that Waterstones have chosen The Wasp Trap as their Thriller of the Month for February. That means it will be available in every branch of Waterstones across the UK - and not only that but it’s their special edition with gold lettering and a bonus chapter.
So if you like twists, Traitors, 90s nostalgia, tension, twists, psychopaths doing crazy things, and did I mention twists, grab a copy of The Wasp Trap. You can get it in store or on Waterstones.com (I have been assured that even though the site shows the standard version you will get the special edition).
The Wasp Trap paperback is out today! Watch the reel to see the very special edition that’s available exclusively at Waterstones - then follow the link in my bio to get your copy. Happy publication day to me! 🥳
Writing companions. Not distracting at all…
I’ll be appearing at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival on Sunday 8 Feb with @tmloganauthor, chatting about The Wasp Trap his new one, The Weekend, and discussing how easy it is to spot psychopaths… Link to tickets in bio or Google Wolverhampton Literature Festival.
The winner of the most hilarious and rude Amazon review ever is still this one…
#themagpies #psychologicalthriller #amazonreview
Everyone else is posting their 2016 highlights so I can’t resist joining in.
I miss my hair. I also miss Rebel and my ginger cat, Billie. But it was a great year. Follow You Home was still shifting huge numbers and The Devil’s Work, which was the hardest book I’ve ever written, came out and did pretty well. We moved house and I wrote The Lucky Ones, the title of which reflects how I felt - and still feel.
Thank you if you were reading my books ten years ago and are still with me!
The paperback of The Wasp Trap is out on January 29th in the UK and I have two signed copies to give away!
It’s been described as ‘The Traitors with shotguns’, in which six dinner party guests are forced to play a deadly game that ties back to a test they created to trap a psychopath. Everyone in the room has a secret…and I promise you won’t guess what they are. It’s available to pre-order now wherever you buy your books.
To enter, all you need to do is like this post and comment.
For an extra entry, share it as a story, and for another entry tag a friend who loves psychological thrillers, and they’ll be entered too. The winner also needs to be following me.
The two lucky ones will be drawn at random. Closes Friday 23rd Jan. UK only.
Good luck!
Exciting announcement and competition! Are you in a book club? I’ve put together a special Reading Group Guide to The Wasp Trap - and you could win a Zoom call with me plus signed book plates for your whole club.
The guide not only contains discussion topics and questions about The Wasp Trap, but everything you need to make your meet-up special: 1999 playlists, a dinner and drinks menu AND a special ‘Which character are you?’ quiz so you can find out if you’re the psychopath! The guide also works for anyone who’s not in a book club and who just wants to take the quiz and see which music I chose for the playlists! 1999 was a very good year…
To get your guide, simply follow the link in my bio and stories. To enter the giveaway, simply reply to the welcome email telling me where your book club is located and letting me know that you’d like to enter.
Note: If you’re already signed up to my newsletter the guide will be emailed to you very soon along with details of the giveaway.
To run through that again:
1. Follow the link in my bio and stories to get your reading group guide, which you can enjoy whether or not you’re in a book club.
2. To enter the giveaway and win a Zoom with me plus signed book plates just reply to the welcome email with details of your book group.
3. If you’re already signed up my newsletter you don’t need to do anything. I’ll be in touch very soon.
The Wasp Trap is available now in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in the US, UK and Canada. The UK paperback comes out Jan 29, and the ebook is available as part of your Kindle Unlimited membership if you’re in America.
“The snow in the mountains was melting and Bunny had been dead for several weeks before we came to understand the gravity of our situation.”
Feels like a Donna Tartt kind of day.
I just finished my second listen to Once Upon a Time at Bennington College, the fascinating podcast about Bennington’s Class of 86: Donna, Bret Easton Ellis and Jonathan Lethem. Tempted to read The Secret History for the 8th or 9th time but am going to re-read The Little Friend instead, while continuing to hope that 2026 brings news of a new novel from DT…
I’m almost ready to start the next book… but here are all the important things I need to do first. It’s not procrastination - it’s an important ritual!
Dottie contemplating world domination in 2026
Chilly walk with Sherlock on the final weekend before I go back to work and start plotting book 26 or 27… I’ve completely lost track but I know the theme and the hook. The first draft will be done in approximately 180 dog walks from now…
Follow Mark on Instagram
Want to keep up with what Mark's doing, find out what Peggy the Maine Coon has been up to, keep track of the latest special offers and see what Mark is reading or listening to? Head over to Instagram and give @markedwardsauthor a follow.