The Wrecker’s Girl

by S. K. Tremayne

The first in a brand new crime thriller series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author, that will transport you to the rugged Cornish coast, and keep you on the edge of your seat. An unexplained death

In stormy West Cornwall, a woman lies dead at the bottom of a waterfall.

A house full of secrets

A year later, her children are possessed by strange and disturbing visions.

A family with everything to hide

Forensic psychologist Karenza Bray agrees to help. Someone knows the truth about what happened to Natalie Tyack. But the more Karenza investigates, the deeper she steps into a mystery, or a haunting. Or worse.

Will any of them escape sane, and unscathed?

What readers are saying about The Wrecker's Girl 'Had me staying up all night to immerse myself in the deliciously horrific Cornish-Gothic atmosphere ' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Dark and mysterious and just a little bit scary' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A gorgeously written, genuinely spooky thriller brimming with twists, atmosphere, and characters that feel all too real' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Fast paced and will get the adrenaline flowing!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Audible Audio

Published February 12, 2026

Reviews

[Jennifer Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brillant book

[Denis Wheller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is there such a thing as a haunted house, or is it just people suffering from the aftereffects of trauma who are haunted by their imagination? Dr Karenza Bray is a Forensic Psychologist who has spent the last twenty years working mainly with mentally disturbed prisoners, but is now working privately, mainly with mildly troubled, domestic patients. The change may have been partly driven by the accidental drowning of her own daughter. When her ex-husband, a barrister, begs her to take on a case of possible collective psychosis involving an old Cornish family, she is reluctant to accept. Centuries ago, the family concerned, the Tyacks, made their money legally from Tin mining and, possibly, criminally as Wreckers. The head of the family and his two young children still live in the ancestral mansion. His wife died a year ago, found on the beach at the foot of a nearby zawn, the local name for narrow, steep-sided, clefts in the cliffs. Accident or suicide? Accident is the kinder verdict. Not surprisingly, the death has traumatised the family, especially the children who seem to be having hallucinations, dark foreboding visions, and believe their mother is haunting them. Their father, outwardly acting normally, is also suffering, but it is the mental deterioration of the children which persuades Karenza to take the case. To do the job properly she has to spend time in the house, witnessing the family behaviour. Is the children’s experience and behaviour all in their minds, or is this an actual haunted house?
This story is clearly in the mystery-thriller genre, but there is also a heavy air of the supernatural, perhaps even a touch of the gothic, permeating it. To convey all of that and successfully keep it on track, which it does, shows that it is very cleverly written and plotted. The pace is quite slow to begin with, and descriptively a bit over lyrical, but it settles in nicely, the tension builds steadily and the pace picks up considerably as it approaches the dénouement. I think Karenza’s cases will become a series and I look forward to her next foray. Star wise I think 4.5 rounded to 5 is appropriate.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

[Carol Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dark creepy Cornish peninsula is an extra character in this story. The descriptions are on point to the extent that you feel you are there with the characters and are experiencing every nuance with them. The plot revolves around a family who have experienced tragedy and a forensic psychologist who has taken on the task of helping them despite suffering her own tragic history. This book tore me in two: I was engaged with the various characters and wanted to get to the bottom of the mystery but I also had my credulity stretched almost to breaking point. Overall I was satisfied with the story but on reflection, felt the setting/cornish history had more than a minor role. I must also add that having read S K Tremayne’s book, The Assistant I was surprised at the change of style.

[Sarah B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karenza Bray is a forensic psychologist in Cornwall. She is asked to look into a curious case involving Solly and Grace, and a year ago, Natalie Tyack is found dead by a waterfall at the bottom of a cliff. It was atmospheric, chilling, full of unexpected twists and turns, gripping, haunting, and spine tingling. Karenza needs to put her skills to work to understand if the kids are possessed or is something else entirely causing their issues.