The Girl in Flat Three is now on shelves in Asda!
If you’re hunting for the perfect gift for the psychological-thriller lover in your life, keep an eye out for the paperback—part of Asda’s Mix & Match deal right now.
Go on… add a little suspense to someone’s stocking.
Secure your paperback copy before release of The Girl in Flat Three, book one in the gripping psychological thriller by Jacqueline Beard. Use code SUMMER25 at checkout to receive 25% off the paperback when you pre-order from Waterstones.
📅 Offer valid until 31 July 2025 – don’t miss your chance to save on this unputdownable release. https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-girl-in-flat-three/jacqueline-beard/9781036703967
A missing girl. An unsolved murder. A neighbour with something to hide.
Unemployed and adrift, Sass Denman never expected her life to unravel over a casual conversation. But when it leads her to the enigmatic private investigator Sean Tallis—whose methods are as unconventional as his obsession with lizards—Sass finds herself drawn into a case far more dangerous than she ever imagined. What begins as a search for a missing girl soon connects to a cold case that has haunted the Cotswolds for a decade. Is the infamous Skin Thief back? The deeper they dig, the more sinister the trail becomes—and all paths lead to Bosworth House, Sass’s own crumbling residence. Each flat hides secrets. Flat Four echoes with nightly arguments. A padlocked cellar door remains sealed. And behind Flat Three, something unspeakable has already happened.As suspicion tightens around her, Sass must confront the chilling possibility that a killer is living just a few steps away.
The Girl in Flat Three is the chilling first installment in the Denman & Tallis Cotswold Crime Thrillers series by Jacqueline Beard—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Claire Douglas, and Nicci French.
Trust no one. The killer is closer than you think.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “I was absolutely hooked from page one.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “A gritty, page-turning read—I stayed up late to finish it.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Gripping and well thought out story.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “I would have given this book 10 stars if I could.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “Good psychological thriller, lots of twists and turns.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ “A truly gripping thriller!”
Ordinary life is endlessly fascinating, from the quiet hum of a communal meeting place to the clink of teacups in a village cafe or the ice cream van on a sleepy suburban street. These moments are so familiarly innocuous that we rarely stop to wonder what might lurk beneath them.
And that’s where the story begins.
As a crime and mystery writer, I find the most chilling tales don’t begin with bloodshed or bodies — they start with routine. With predictable lives, bordering on tedious, until something unravels. A misstep. A secret. A person who doesn’t quite belong. Or, in my book, The Girl In Flat Three, a smell that won’t go away. Suddenly, the cosy becomes claustrophobic. The familiar feels foreign. And the ordinary becomes the stage for something much darker.
This genre is sometimes called domestic noir, but isn’t it more appropriately named as the sinister ordinary? A genre that encourages the reader to look closer — to examine the kind neighbour, the spotless home, the polite hotel guest. To question the noises coming from the flat above? These aren’t gothic castles or abandoned warehouses. They are places we inhabit. And that’s what makes them dangerous.
Real suspense begins not in the extraordinary but in the almost possible. In the idea that the person who checks your fire alarms might plant something more lethal. That the inoffensive man in the supermarket queue isn’t browsing so much as stalking. It’s that sliver of doubt, once introduced, that swiftly spreads its tentacles.
I read and write in that moment — identifying the split second when everything shifts. A once locked door left ajar, a misplaced object that shouldn’t be there. A silence that lasts a little too long.
We live in a world built on habits and expectations. Most days follow a script. But it’s in the unscripted where that stories take shape.
So pay attention next time you’re in a hotel or walking down a familiar street. Notice the shadows. Watch for the hesitation in someone’s smile. The sinister doesn’t always arrive with a mask and knife held aloft. Sometimes, it wears a name badge and offers to change your towels.
The Devil comes to Bylands – Book Three in The Denman & Tallis Cotswold Crime Series coming later this year.
Constance Maxwell is a heroine like no other, carrying the weight of her gifts and struggles with quiet determination. If you’re drawn to strong, complex characters, richly detailed settings, and stories that keep you guessing until the very end, the Constance Maxwell Dreamwalker Series is waiting for you.
Who Is Connie?
Constance Maxwell is no ordinary woman. Though burdened by a disability, she possesses a rare and extraordinary gift: the ability to dreamwalk, allowing her to traverse the dream realm, uncovering secrets and solving mysteries that defy explanation. But her abilities come at a cost—each journey into the unknown bringing danger to her mind and her life.
Set against the backdrop of pre-war England, Constance’s adventures are steeped in historical detail, from the misty streets of Cornwall to the eerie landscapes of the dream realm. With her unshakable courage, and a touch of vulnerability, Constance is a heroine you’ll empathise with from the first page.
The Books
Each book in the Constance Maxwell Dreamwalker Series is a standalone mystery, together weaving a larger tapestry of her life, gifts, and challenges.
Why You’ll Love the Series
What Readers Are Saying
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Very well written mystery with lots of plot twists, a bit of the supernatural and a very likeable heroine.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Seriously I just couldn’t stop reading…
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I especially enjoyed Jacqueline’s descriptive style of writing about the villages, beaches and cliffs which makes you feel as if you are actually there rather than just looking on.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The author took me back in time with a wonderfully crafted tale of murder.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ … you won’t want to stop reading…
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ The writing is wonderful, the characters awesome, and the plot so exciting.
Whether you’re new to the series or a longtime reader, there’s never been a better time to dive into the world of Constance Maxwell with the release of The Cheltenham Torso on 26th February.
📖 Start reading today!
Victorian spiritualism blurred the line between science and the supernatural, and mysteries abounded. Prominent men like Frank Podmore, a Society for Psychical Research member, used science to investigate the paranormal. Podmore features in the latest Lawrence Harpham novel, Shadow Over Malvern. But who was he and how did he meet an enigmatic end?
📖 Who Was Frank Podmore?
Frank Podmore (1856–1910) was a writer, social reformer, and a key figure in the investigation of paranormal phenomena. Alongside luminaries like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and William James, Podmore sought to bring scientific rigour to the studying spiritualism, telepathy, and ghostly encounters. His works, including Modern Spiritualism and Telepathic Hallucinations, remain influential in psychical research.
🔍 The Mystery of His Death
On August 14, 1910, Frank Podmore’s life came to a sudden and puzzling end when his body was discovered in New Pool near Malvern, Worcestershire. Various theories abounded, and his death was officially listed as ‘found drowned’, but many questions remain unanswered:
🌌 A Legacy Shrouded in Mystery
Podmore’s death remains a mystery. Was it a tragic end to a life dedicated to uncovering the unknown? Or was something more sinister at play?
🌟 Constance Maxwell: The Dreamwalker Series 🌟
Step into a world where dreams and reality collide, where mysteries unravel in the most unexpected ways, and where one woman’s extraordinary gift takes her on adventures beyond imagination. Welcome to the Constance Maxwell Dreamwalker Series—a gripping blend of historical fiction, supernatural intrigue, and heart-pounding suspense.
📖 About the Series:
Constance Maxwell is no ordinary woman. With the unique ability to astral travel, she finds herself drawn into a web of secrets, danger, and otherworldly phenomena. From the sleepy streets of coastal Cornwall to the eerie landscapes of the dream realm, Constance’s journey is one of courage, discovery, and resilience. Each book, featuring historical true crimes, delves deeper into her mysterious origins, blending rich historical detail with spine-tingling twists that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.
🔥 Latest Release: The Cheltenham Torso (Book 4)
The fourth instalment in the series, The Cheltenham Torso, launches on 26th February, and it’s Constance’s most thrilling adventure yet.
Grief-stricken after Vera’s death, Connie has left dreamwalking behind. But as World War II casts its shadow over England, secrets brew beneath the surface of sleepy Cornwall—and Crossley, the rogue occultist, has vanished into hiding.
When the psychic division recruits Crossley as a double agent, Cora spirits Connie away to Cheltenham. What begins as a refuge quickly spirals into danger, thrusting Connie into a web of intrigue and an unexpected murder mystery.
As Crossley resurfaces with plans to unleash his most audacious occult feat, Connie faces perilous choice. Can she unravel the truth behind the murder and stay one step ahead of Crossley’s sinister designs? And what of the enigmatic figure who has suddenly returned to her life—friend or foe?
✨ Why You’ll Love the Series:
Don’t miss the release of The Cheltenham Torso on 26th February. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Constance Maxwell or new to the series, this is the perfect time to dive into her world.
With Aurora in hiding, Frank Podmore missing, and old foe Felix Crossley on the prowl, Lawrence and Violet’s tranquil retirement is shattered. A tragedy in Malvern pulls Lawrence into the orbit of Arthur Conan Doyle, who challenges him to solve a chilling mystery from the past: uncover the truth behind years of anonymous letters and the wrongful conviction of George Edalji.
But as their investigation deepens, danger tightens its grip. When their landlady is poisoned and Lawrence narrowly escapes a deadly attack, it becomes clear they’re on the verge of exposing secrets someone will kill to keep buried.
Meanwhile, Crossley’s shadow looms ever closer, and Lawrence must confront a grim reality—escape may no longer be an option.
A gripping tale of intrigue, danger, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
New Paperback release date 9 Feb 25! In the meantime, get your kindle copy here https://geni.us/FFW2
A sinister mystery that threatens to resurrect the dark history of the Suffolk witch trials.
Private Detective Lawrence Harpham grapples with his own demons while unravelling a chilling case with echoes of Suffolk’s dark history.
As unexplained deaths stir whispers of witchcraft, Harpham must confront the sins of the past to prevent more innocent lives from being lost.
Jacqueline Beard’s captivating debut in the Lawrence Harpham Murder Mystery series, “The Fressingfield Witch,” weaves a sinister tale of secrets and betrayal that will keep readers enthralled until the very last page.
A haunting mystery that blurs the lines between reality and superstition.
A murder in Camden town, another in Bloomsbury…
Retired private detectives Lawrence and Violet Harpham are back in the capital for sightseeing and relaxation. But Lawrence becomes increasingly isolated when artist Walter Sickert befriends Violet, acting as a mentor for her new hobby.
Bored and with nothing better to do, Lawrence delves into the recent murder of Emily Dimmock. But Emily was not the only woman to die under mysterious circumstances.
As Lawrence discovers more suspicious deaths, an old enemy returns, threatening the lives of all he holds dear. Meanwhile, the killer is moving in and will stop at nothing to fulfil his destiny. Can Lawrence unmask him before others die?
Fans of Andrea Penrose, Emily Organ and Irina Shapiro will enjoy this intricately plotted murder mystery set in Edwardian London. Based on true crimes.
FREE if subscribed to Kindle Unlimited – click here for more
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Trapped in a cage and left for dead, Adam Harding narrowly survives his enforced captivity. Fast forward three years and the peaceful towns of Truscombe and Tewkesbury are shaken by the appearance of bodies bearing shackle marks. Fear ripples through the community.
With the police resources stretched thin, seasoned investigators Sean and Saskia are called to help, soon realizing they are up against a twisted and methodical killer. But the arrival of Sean’s newly separated friend strains the partnership, causing him to become increasingly distracted, while Saskia feels pushed aside.
As the body count rises, clues lead to a local therapist and a succession of unnerving emails from a depraved killer. Will Sean and Saskia unmask the murderer before it’s too late, or will they become the next targets in this deadly game of cat and mouse? Journey to the darkest corners of the human mind in this chilling psychological mystery with a killer twist.
Click here to pre-order for delivery 3rd October.
Jacqueline Beard Writer 