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Death at the Devil's Chair: A gripping, unputdownable detective drama set in the wilds of Shropshire (A DI Georgie Fraser Mystery)
A body found in a bottomless pool. A second victim, meticulously staged and left for dead.
In the desolate hills of Shropshire, a killer has arrived, and for local bunkhouse owner Marianne Leonard, the investigation is personal. When the police discover her own criminal past, her fragile new life is on the line, and she knows she’s not just a witness—she’s a suspect.
As DI Georgie Fraser, a detective with a haunted past of her own, delves into the dark history of the Devil’s Chair, every resident of the bunkhouse becomes a person of interest. There's the blustering walking group leader, the enigmatic archaeologists, and a mysterious young man who seems to know more than he's letting on. Trust is a luxury Marianne cannot afford, for the killer is not only stalking their next victim but also unraveling Marianne's secrets one by one. Can she unmask the murderer before her life is completely destroyed?
The wild and unforgiving Shropshire landscape provides a brutal and beautiful setting for a story of murder and suspense. This is a gripping and atmospheric crime novel that explores themes of secrets, atonement, and finding a place to belong.
'Absolutely loved this book! It’s totally utterly compelling, unputdownable — a great, page-turn-y mystery in every way.' Sophie Hannah, Sunday Times, New York Times and Amazon Kindle UK No. 1 bestselling writer of crime fiction
Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves and Rachel McClean
In the desolate hills of Shropshire, a killer has arrived, and for local bunkhouse owner Marianne Leonard, the investigation is personal. When the police discover her own criminal past, her fragile new life is on the line, and she knows she’s not just a witness—she’s a suspect.
As DI Georgie Fraser, a detective with a haunted past of her own, delves into the dark history of the Devil’s Chair, every resident of the bunkhouse becomes a person of interest. There's the blustering walking group leader, the enigmatic archaeologists, and a mysterious young man who seems to know more than he's letting on. Trust is a luxury Marianne cannot afford, for the killer is not only stalking their next victim but also unraveling Marianne's secrets one by one. Can she unmask the murderer before her life is completely destroyed?
The wild and unforgiving Shropshire landscape provides a brutal and beautiful setting for a story of murder and suspense. This is a gripping and atmospheric crime novel that explores themes of secrets, atonement, and finding a place to belong.
'Absolutely loved this book! It’s totally utterly compelling, unputdownable — a great, page-turn-y mystery in every way.' Sophie Hannah, Sunday Times, New York Times and Amazon Kindle UK No. 1 bestselling writer of crime fiction
Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves and Rachel McClean
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2025
About the author
Saskia van der Zee
8 books1 followerSaskia van der Zee first fell in love with the rugged beauty of the Shropshire Hills through the Lone Pine adventure stories she read as a child. Today, she lives in their heart, and their wild beauty inspires her writing. Her love of crime fiction began with her grandfather's old Agatha Christie paperbacks, some of the few English language books at the family home in Bilthoven, The Netherlands. From Christie, she progressed through the work of Ruth Rendell, P.D. James, Patricia Cornwell, Ian Rankin, Colin Dexter, and many more, a lifelong study that would eventually allow her to fuse her two passions: the Shropshire hills and crime fiction.
After gaining an undergraduate degree in Medieval History from the University of Oxford, she took time to raise her children before becoming a teacher, specialising in English and Music. Her love of singing later prompted her to become a voice coach, and she spent several years working with singers of all ages. An avid curiosity for human and animal wellbeing also led her to train as an equine massage therapist and to qualify in human injury rehabilitation and various forms of energy healing.
Throughout her diverse career, Saskia was always writing, at first creating Malcolm Saville fan fiction for her children before branching out into her own worlds and characters. For years, she had no inclination to publish her work, but when her children went to university, she sought a new direction. After enrolling in a Creative Writing MA and gaining a distinction, she grew used to sharing her writing with others, and publishing seemed the next logical step. With a passion for both control and learning new skills, she decided to embrace the path of independent publishing and is having a ball.
Saskia is autistic with ADHD and regards both conditions as the superpowers that have enabled her to fit so much into life and to embrace it with such enthusiasm. Her favorite companions are her partner, their combined sets of children, their horses, cats, and dogs.
After gaining an undergraduate degree in Medieval History from the University of Oxford, she took time to raise her children before becoming a teacher, specialising in English and Music. Her love of singing later prompted her to become a voice coach, and she spent several years working with singers of all ages. An avid curiosity for human and animal wellbeing also led her to train as an equine massage therapist and to qualify in human injury rehabilitation and various forms of energy healing.
Throughout her diverse career, Saskia was always writing, at first creating Malcolm Saville fan fiction for her children before branching out into her own worlds and characters. For years, she had no inclination to publish her work, but when her children went to university, she sought a new direction. After enrolling in a Creative Writing MA and gaining a distinction, she grew used to sharing her writing with others, and publishing seemed the next logical step. With a passion for both control and learning new skills, she decided to embrace the path of independent publishing and is having a ball.
Saskia is autistic with ADHD and regards both conditions as the superpowers that have enabled her to fit so much into life and to embrace it with such enthusiasm. Her favorite companions are her partner, their combined sets of children, their horses, cats, and dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 16, 2025
An atmospheric, intelligent, and thrilling novel. I enjoyed it enormously; it's beautifully crafted and atmospheric.
The reading was a rare pleasure: a crime novel that honours the conventions of the genre while quietly (and cleverly) transcending them. Saskia has written something far more textured; the Shropshire hills — rendered with an almost tactile sensitivity — feel alive, shaping not only the plot but the psychology of everyone who moves across them. It's an evocative setting, and she makes perfect use of it.
I found the characters drawn with the same deftness, particularly DI Georgie Fraser, a detective whose confidence and vulnerability sit alongside each other in believable ways.
I LOVED the novel's narrative confidence; the pacing is measured but never slack. The dialogue is spot-on, with small observational details... the social hesitations, the half-heard gossip, the tension between hospitality and reticence that defines rural life. It's an unfolding mystery which becomes not only gripping but unexpectedly moving.
I was lucky enough to have an early reader copy. If this is the first in a series, I sincerely hope it won't be the last!
The reading was a rare pleasure: a crime novel that honours the conventions of the genre while quietly (and cleverly) transcending them. Saskia has written something far more textured; the Shropshire hills — rendered with an almost tactile sensitivity — feel alive, shaping not only the plot but the psychology of everyone who moves across them. It's an evocative setting, and she makes perfect use of it.
I found the characters drawn with the same deftness, particularly DI Georgie Fraser, a detective whose confidence and vulnerability sit alongside each other in believable ways.
I LOVED the novel's narrative confidence; the pacing is measured but never slack. The dialogue is spot-on, with small observational details... the social hesitations, the half-heard gossip, the tension between hospitality and reticence that defines rural life. It's an unfolding mystery which becomes not only gripping but unexpectedly moving.
I was lucky enough to have an early reader copy. If this is the first in a series, I sincerely hope it won't be the last!
December 17, 2025
A truly gripping crime novel that keeps you guessing to the end. Set in a beautiful part of the country which the author uses to make the tale just a little more darker. Well written and look forward to reading more in the future.
February 20, 2026
Saskia van der Zee has a great narrative voice that effortlessly draws you into her Shropshire world. Not only is there a strong sense of place, but the characters are well-developed and real, so when they start being bumped off, it makes for a gripping read. I'm looking forward to more.
January 29, 2026
I absolutely 100% recommended reading this if you are a fan of crime fiction. It is definitely a case of being an "I can't put it down" book.
It is a book that grabs your attention and doesn't loosen it's hold due to the clever way that it is written, drawing you deeper and deeper into the story.
It is a book that grabs your attention and doesn't loosen it's hold due to the clever way that it is written, drawing you deeper and deeper into the story.
June 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews