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.
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…
Here’s a great way to start 2026. The Wasp Trap paperback is out in the UK this month - January 29th - and will be available wherever you buy your books, including Waterstones. It features the first chapter of One of the Family in the back. If you’ve been waiting for the paperback to drop, now is the perfect time to pre-order this edition. Link in bio.
What a year that was! Thank you to everyone who read one of my books in 2025, came to an event or simply interacted on here. The Psychopath Next Door. The Wasp Trap. The Christmas Magpie. I’ve never been so busy or had so much fun. Let’s do it all again in 26, shall we?
It seems quite ironic that my post about The Housemaid movie was my most liked post of the year (!) and now the book is the only thing preventing The Psychopath Next Door from getting to No.1. If you haven’t downloaded it yet now’s the time. You know Lucy would love to be on the top spot. She’s definitely think she deserves it.
A very happy Christmas to all my readers from me and my lesser-spotted cat, Willow! If you’ve read any of my novels this year, thank you - and I hope Santa brings you lots of books and that you get no gifts from the Christmas Magpie. I am going to spend the next few days eating cheese and watching TV - and trying to stay off social media! 🎄
Just got home from watching The Housemaid in a packed cinema. Hugely entertaining, really funny and the three leads were all great. Added bonus: a Lana needle drop in the middle! I haven’t read the book so would love to know how faithful it is. It’s the very definition of a fab popcorn thriller.
My favourite books of 2025. The one rule is that they have to be by authors I haven’t met in real life. I read 40 novels this year which included some of the best books I’ve ever read. All of these are absolutely brilliant but I knew what was going to be top from the moment I finished it back in January. It’s appeared on a lot of best of lists and deserves to be a huge bestseller.
If you’re in the US, The Wasp Trap is now available through Kindle Unlimited for a limited time. This is your chance to read the book the New York Times chose as one of their hidden gems of 2025. The hardcover is also half price on Amazon right now if you’re looking for a last-minute gift!
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