Women Who Kill

Anna Scavolini #4

by M.R. Mackenzie

Ice Queen. Angel of Death. Innocent victim?

Cold, unsympathetic, pilloried by the press, despised by the public, Sandra Morton has always maintained her innocence, but her attempts to overturn her conviction for the brutal murders of her husband and two infant children have been repeatedly knocked back.

When Sandra’s solicitor asks criminology lecturer Anna Scavolini to review the evidence, Anna is initially reluctant to accept. Soon, however, she becomes consumed by the case’s myriad unanswered questions, and by the enigma that is Sandra herself. Did she really do it, or was she merely a convenient scapegoat?

But Sandra herself is far from cooperative, and Anna has her own problems to contend with. She’s juggling work commitments with raising her three-year-old son, and to cap it all, her estranged, overbearing mother is back in town. Can Anna keep the case and her private life separate, or are they on an unstoppable collision course – with potentially devastating consequences?

A gripping cold case mystery filled with twists and deadly intrigue, Women Who Kill is Anna Scavolini’s toughest challenge yet, ideal for fans of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Denise Mina’s Garnethill trilogy.

428 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2023

About the author

To get the latest news and your FREE sample chapters from the McIlvanney Prize-nominated In the Silence, join the M.R. Mackenzie Readers’ Club:

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M.R. Mackenzie is the author of several gritty, character-driven crime fiction novels set mainly in his native Glasgow, including an ongoing series of mysteries featuring criminology lecturer Anna Scavolini.

The first book in the series, In the Silence, was shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Scottish Crime Debut of the Year and longlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Book of the Year 2019.

The sixth, The Secrets We Keep, featured in the Financial Times’ Best Summer Books of 2025 (Crime and Thrillers) and IngramSpark’s 2025 Editorial Selection (Mystery/Thriller).


PRAISE FOR M.R. MACKENZIE:

“One of the most consistently accomplished writers on the current scene.” — Financial Times

“Brings a fresh new voice to the field of Tartan Noir.” — James Oswald

“Writes with precision and passion.” — Caro Ramsay

“An immersive slow burn of a tale, peppered with disquieting fire-crackers of revelation.” — Gordon J. Brown

“Mackenzie has come up with something that defies easy definition and is truly original.” — NB Magazine

“Up there with the best contemporary authors working today.” — David B. Lyons

Reviews

[beth mclaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women Who Kill

Well written mystery story which goes beyond conventional tropes of usual detective who-done-it. The author clearly demonstrates how easy it is to follow one's beliefs simply because they are part of one's past, without any attempt to apply intellect to the situation. A convicted woman sits in prison; circumstances prove evidence was altered/destroyed....a case of justice system gone astray? Yet who is manipulating the situation and for what purpose?
The characters are well drawn.... intelligent yet flawed; capable of great insight but blinded by prejudices formed from past events.
Highly recommended.

[Alex_mcroberthotmail.Co.Uk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series of books. This is absolutely the best one to date and I eagerly await the next book. If you haven’t already discovered the work of M R MacKenzie, I can absolutely recommend it. The storytelling is first class and the central character is written with great insight and passion.

[Susann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Story

This author does like to examine criminal issues in his books: What is crime; what is justice; what consequences to those in jail are helpful; how accurate are police investigations; hypocrisy in the legal system and more. Lots of moral conundra to mull over. I admire the way this story was laid out...a probably non-winnable reexamination of a murder case, the slow build up of clues, and the solution. And was it worth it in the end. Some of the plot was a bit far fetched such as the kidnapping and the rapprochement between mother and daughter. Still, a very exciting read. The characters are so well drawn.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic addition to this series! Whilst the crimes detailed by MRM are absolutely brutal and inhumane, his story telling and characterisation are first class, along with great descriptions of various locations that I know so well. This installment gave the protagonist another dimension as both mother and daughter which I enjoyed, and the ending had me totally floored!

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book

Couldn’t put this down Anne was so determined in finding out the truth in the case she undertook and in her own family relations. WOW. Had me with twists and turns til the end
Sometimes evil is evil

[carol mcquade · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful

I really enjoyed this book, the story was different I felt involved right from the start. The new characters blended in well I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a gripping read.

[Laura Poppenwimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book went in a direction that I didn't anticipate. The characters are well established and their relationship adds to the story. The plot of the book had many twists and turns and took off in unexpected ways. The ending was spellbinding and hard to put down. Issues all resolved at the end.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting plot. Protagonist was kind of the worst though.