Six Strikes

by Antonia Grave

There's no smoke without fire…As someone who has suffered abuse at the hands of men, Maddie protects women by murdering those who attack them – men she calls ‘fleas’. Fleas are men who follow women home. Abusive husbands who refuse to walk away. And then there’s the Manchester a serial killer stalking the streets, determined to murder people like her.

But Maddie can’t get away with it forever. Years later, in the interview room of her prison, she comes face-to-face with a very important visitor. Someone she’s going to tell all to, about how she caught one of the UK’s most prolific serial killers, and how she got caught as one herself…

This emotional and chilling thriller in the vein of Promising Young Woman is perfect for fans of Alice Feeney, Helen Fields and Jo Callaghan.

AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW!‘A nuanced tragedy as well as an exciting crime fiction’ – MARIE TIERNEY, author of Deadly Animals

'Remarkable' – ALISON BELSHAM, author of The Girls on Chalk Hill

'Thrilling and moving. A must read!’ – JANE RENSHAW, author of The Stepson

'Utterly enthralling' – FRANCES CRAWFORD, author of A Bad, Bad Place

'Exceptionally gripping and suspenseful’ – JULIE LANCASTER, author of Remember Where You’ve Buried the Bodies

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 12, 2026

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+
Abuse sufferer Maddie Reid hunts ‘fleas’, men who stalk and murder women and men who abuse women. She’s got pretty good at it and so far has evaded the law. Meanwhile, in Manchester, a serial killer known as The Maniac is stalking prey, making life dangerous for women and so Maddie cannot resist the ‘lure’ of the city. Can she find the killer when the police failed to do so? Inevitably, the law catches up with Maddie and twenty years later at HMP Bronzefield, Maddie is in an interview room. Will she tell all about her hunt for the Manchester Maniac and how she came to be apprehended?

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel so accomplished is the writing. This is a raw, shocking, dark and utterly gripping novel, a novel of retribution (justified? I’ll leave you to decide) and which makes very valid and thoughtful points about female safety along the way. it builds intensely and slowly but with excellent suspense and with some very good revelatory jolts along the way.

What can I say about Maddie without giving too much away? She’s resilient, resourceful, a survivor, scarred, damaged and utterly unforgettable. As you read about her, her actions, maybe like me you’ll ask a multitude of questions about right and wrong and about justice.

Overall, this is an excellent psychological thriller with many twists and turns and which is hard to put down. I hope it’s the best seller as it deserves to be.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Avon Books for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m unsure if this is a debut title, if it is it’s a massively impressive start to a writing career, the writing and characterisation were fabulous and the whole story felt fresh, current, relatable, believable and unique.

I loved this. and I’m glad I took my time with it, I normally have to binge a title to totally get it, but with this I was quite safe in the knowledge that Maddie was waiting to tell me her story and I could dive in and out when I had time to listen.

Quite a triumph, you’ll want this on your 2026 tbr!

I really enjoyed the narration, Charlie Sanderson made Maddie real.

Huge thanks to HarperCollins U.K. audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six Strikes is a bold and unsettling thriller that asks what happens when trauma and vengeance collide. Maddie, scarred by years of abuse, takes justice into her own hands by targeting the men she calls “fleas”—predators who stalk women, abusive husbands who refuse to walk away, and those who thrive on fear. Her mission is brutal but rooted in a fierce desire to protect, and that complexity makes her story both chilling and deeply compelling.

The narrative unfolds with Maddie years later, in the stark confines of a prison interview room, recounting how she not only hunted down one of the UK’s most prolific killers—the Manchester Maniac—but also became a killer herself. This framing gives the novel a haunting resonance, blending confession with suspense, and forcing the reader to confront uncomfortable questions about justice, morality, and survival.

What makes Six Strikes stand out is its emotional depth. It’s not simply a tale of violence and pursuit, but a story about scars, resilience, and the blurred line between protector and predator. The atmosphere is tense and immersive, yet threaded with humanity, making Maddie a character who lingers long after the final page.

Perfect for fans of Alice Feeney, Helen Fields, and Jo Callaghan, Six Strikes is both chilling and thought-provoking—a thriller that burns with intensity and refuses to be forgotten.

With thanks to Antonia Grave, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of ‘Six Strikes’ by Antonia Grace, due to be published on 12 March 2026 by Avon Books UK.

Told from the point of view of Maddie Reid, now an infamous serial killer, her backstory being a child abducted as a 10 year old, kept captive by her abuser, Ben Starr, for 12 years.

We follow Maddie through two timelines - one in 2007 in Manchester, where together with investigative reporter Victoria Sloane they hunt for clues as to who the ‘Manchester Maniac’ is - the other during her incarceration at HMP Bronzefield in 2027. We follow Maddie’s recall of the other abusers, or ‘fleas’ as she calls them, how she caught them and ended their lives.

Undoubtedly, the horrors of her past and lost childhood shaped her future, Maddie sees only bad, and struggles to see any good. Maybe her thoughts and actions are misguided, or maybe she is right - she is a hero who has saved countless other women from a fate similar to her own, or worse.

The revelation of who her mystery prison visitor is left until near the end, with there being a few suspects for who it could be, with a cleverly written tiny little reference that is almost blink and you’d miss it to give a glimpse of their identity, earlier than the reveal itself.

A well written, well executed, dark and unsettling debut. I found myself completely engrossed in Maddie’s story. Words don’t do justice to just how good this novel is - it’s a highly recommend read.

[Lisa]

Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

Six Strikes is one of those bad guy for good reasons kind of story. You feel for Maddie and her history and kind of root for her even though she is a killer. I think at some point maybe we all want to be like that sometimes, you know go after the bad guys so they don't hurt anyone anymore. There were a lot of characters and a lot to tell. For me, it seemed it took a long time to get through it. Although the thought behind the story is a great one and I do think it was told okay it just seemed to drag a bit for me and I became frustrated with the terms "flea" and "lamb." I understand the choice of those words, I just didn't care for them and they were used a lot.

This one just didn't grab me and I found it difficult to want to keep reading. But that doesn't mean it won't be the page turner for someone else. Overall, I would say better than average and I give it 3.5 but since a half is not star option I'm leaning more towards a 3 instead of a 4. I would like to see more from this author in the future. This is their debut novel and I think over time they will be even better.

[Claire Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raw, dark and utterly gripping.

It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel, the writing is stellar and the way in which it unfolds unsettling and yet compulsive.

Told from two timelines, we are introduced to Maddie. Abused, broken, different, survivor, seeker of justice, serial killer. She is a multi faceted character with depth and paradox. The story raises the question about morality when seen from the perspective of someone who genuinely believes that they are doing something right having been a victim themselves.

I loved this book, from the moment I picked it up I knew I had a good read! This book reminds me a lot of Sweetpea by C J Skuse - just without the dark humour. It’s not gory and (luckily) it does not glorify or detail Maddies abuse. In stead it is artfully written so the reader is able to fully empathise with her without having to truly ‘understand’ what she lived through.

Definitely one to look out for in the book clubs next year. I think this’ll cause quite a stir.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah Jane Higginbottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Six Strikes** is a gripping thriller that pulled me in from the first chapter and never really let up. Antonia Grave keeps the tension high throughout, balancing sharp action with a lingering sense of unease that made me want to read “just one more page” over and over again.

I especially liked how grounded the main character felt. Their reactions, doubts, and stubborn determination gave the story real emotional weight, even when things got intense. The twists were clever without feeling forced, and the pacing stayed tight all the way through.

A few moments moved a bit quickly, but overall this was a fast, addictive read with atmosphere to spare. If you enjoy thrillers with grit, mystery, and a strong central voice, **Six Strikes** is absolutely worth picking up.


📚I was able to read an advanced copy of title thanks to NetGalley, Antonia Grave and Avon Books UK📚
📚All reviews and opinions are entirely my own📚

[Nat Eveleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Maddie is a survivor. She has suffered at the hands of abusive men, the types of men she calls 'fleas', and her plan is to remove those fleas from the world, before the Police catch up with her. She knows there is a serial killer in Manchester, and she is determined to rid this flea, seeing as the authorities have so far failed to catch him.

This was a dark story. I liked Maddie, and her actions are very thought provoking, whether you feel what she is doing is justified for the greater good, or she is just as bad as them. I found myself really rooting for her, and I hoped she got the life she had dreamed of. We read from two different timelines, back when she was in a women's refuge, and then from HMP Bronzefield where we read more about her own backstory. It got quite slow in places, but it was still quite a good and captivating read.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six Strike is a solid thriller with an interesting premise and enough tension to keep things moving, even if it didn’t fully land for me.

Antonia Graves clearly knows how to build suspense, and there are moments where the story pulls you in and makes you want to read on. The pacing is generally good, and the plot has some engaging twists, but I found parts of it a little predictable and wished certain threads had been explored in more depth.

The characters are likeable enough, but I didn’t always feel fully connected to them, which made it harder to stay emotionally invested as the stakes rose. There’s nothing wrong with the writing, it just didn’t quite deliver the punch I was hoping for.

Overall, Six Strike is an easy, competent read that will suit fans of the genre, but it didn’t stand out strongly for me. Worth a look if you’re after a straightforward thriller without too much complexity

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to listen to this audiobook ARC of Six Strikes by Antonia Grave.

Six Strikes is a gripping thriller with a strong, unforgettable female lead. Maddie, having survived being taken to a drug den by her addict mother and held against her will, is driven by a fierce sense of justice after her escape. She fights misogyny and violence against women in her own way, targeting the men who harm them, while grappling with the moral weight of her actions. Grave’s writing is intense and darkly compelling, and the narration perfectly suits the cast of characters and the difficult content. I particularly enjoyed the humour, which provided a welcome foil to the darker themes. The takeaway from Queen of Burgers will stay with me for some time! Perfect for fans of the CJ Skise Sweet Pea series. A solid five stars from me.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

If, as the saying goes, it takes a thief to catch a thief, might it then take a killer to catch a killer?

Maddie has had her reasons - some might consider them good ones - for the murders she has committed. After all she has only ever killed "fleas", the men who prey on women for a variety of reasons and in an alarmingly diverse variety of ways.

But the price for going after a "real" serial killer may be a high one for her. So, will it be worth it?

An absorbing and entertaining piece of story telling, this gets 3.5 stars and is worth checking out for those who enjoy murder mysteries with a thriller element.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Six Strikes” is a dark novel. A novel of revenge for the women that have been misused and abused. Maddie has suffered such abuse and that is her driving force to eliminate the “fleas”.

I don’t know if you can say you “enjoy” a book like this. Even saying “entertained” feels wrong. It’s so dark and sad in general. However, it is well written and worth your time. To go into detail would be to spoil the book. It just has to be experienced.

Charlie Sanderson is the narrator and does a great job. You will believe she is Maddie. She’s that conveniencing.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[Kelly Veit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! It’s quite hard to believe this is a debut for Antonia Grave! This story was so well-crafted. I went back and forth thinking I had everything figured out one moment, only the next moment to find that I had been lead astray. Graves puts together the pieces of this puzzle slowly but surely with the moves of a veteran. If you enjoy thrillers with mystery, grit and a strong, intelligent FMC then this one is for you. Bravo Ms. Grave! I can’t wait to read your next novel. Thank you to Net Galley and Avon Books UK for the chance to read this story. All opinions are my own and given freely.

[KDRBCK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Six Strikes by debut author Antonia Grave is published by Avon Books UK, Harper Collins UK.
The story spans decades starting in 1999 when Maddie is confronted with with an abusive relationship. Fast forward to 2007, she became kind of an advocat for women in hopeless relationships. Set in the north of UK, the story progresses nicely. A raw and gritty thriller, gripping and literally unputdownable,4,5 stars.

[Sarah Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel as it's woven so well with the the story ramping up the tension with every single page. Dark and unsettling I adored this psychological thriller and found it extremely hard to put it down.

I really look forward to seeing what comes next from this author.

[Alison Taylor-Muhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel – the writing is engrossing, the story shocking and dark in places but always full of emotion. It is an excellent psychological thriller, featuring a deeply scarred main character who is a survivor turned vigilante – truly fascinating stuff. There are parts of the book that feel a little wordy and repetitive but all in all, this is a gripping and suspenseful read which I think will become very popular indeed.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this is the authors debut. I'm excited about what might come next.
I had a bit of free time, which turned this into a one sit read for me.
There was so much to think about, to ponder the who's, why's and what next.
To consider if I felt Maddie was a bad person, or just misguided.
Incredibly readable, and great pacing.
A REALLY good read.


Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.

[Chrissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Six Strikes is a shocking utterly gripping story. Told from the POV of Maddie Reed in two time lines 2007 and 2027.This thriller gripped me from the first chapter with plenty of twists and turns. This is a truly dark story ,I liked Maddie despite her actions. I really enjoyed this book it is one I won't forget .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

[Diane Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved just everything about this book. It's weaves and weaves you think you know but you don't at all. Spectacular first book from this author

Thanks to the author the publisher and Netgalley a early release of this book.

[Michael David (on hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever and compelling thriller about a vigilante serial killer , how she got there, and her imprisonment. It’s a fast read that is dark, disturbing, and compulsively readable. I am definitely looking forward to more from this author.