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The Date
Not yet published
Expected 1 Jul 26What would you do if your first date ended in murder?
A year ago, after a perfect date, Miles Deverill was charged with murder. The handsome young actor became front-page news when he was accused of killing Caira Kennedy, a social worker he had just met that night.
Now acquitted, Miles can’t escape the past. He tries to rebuild his life, but journalists won’t leave him alone. And then the threatening messages start—in Caira's own this is not over. Is she still alive or is someone playing a twisted game?
Desperate to escape, Miles joins friends on a remote road trip. But deep in an isolated forest, one of their group is murdered. Someone close to Miles knows exactly what happened on his date—and this time he has to face the truth. Guilty or innocent, there is nowhere left to run…
A year ago, after a perfect date, Miles Deverill was charged with murder. The handsome young actor became front-page news when he was accused of killing Caira Kennedy, a social worker he had just met that night.
Now acquitted, Miles can’t escape the past. He tries to rebuild his life, but journalists won’t leave him alone. And then the threatening messages start—in Caira's own this is not over. Is she still alive or is someone playing a twisted game?
Desperate to escape, Miles joins friends on a remote road trip. But deep in an isolated forest, one of their group is murdered. Someone close to Miles knows exactly what happened on his date—and this time he has to face the truth. Guilty or innocent, there is nowhere left to run…
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is the debut thriller from former journalist Murdock.Miles and Ciara have the perfect first date. If you overlook the fact that by morning Ciara is found dead and Miles is on trial for her murder…
Miles and Ciara have the perfect first date. If you overlook the fact that by morning Ciara is found dead and Miles is on trial for her murder…A year later Miles is acquitted and trying to rebuild his life. During his time in prison, he clung to the idea of travelling when he got out. And this is what he chooses to do with his sister and close group of friends. It’s not long before they trot off to New Zealand in order to escape the media circus that clouds Miles’ release.
A year later Miles is acquitted and trying to rebuild his life. During his time in prison, he clung to the idea of travelling when he got out. And this is what he chooses to do with his sister and close group of friends. It’s not long before they trot off to New Zealand in order to escape the media circus that clouds Miles’ release.Since he got out Miles has been receiving strange, threatening emails. Someone is convinced the courts are wrong, that he was responsible that night and needs to pay…
Since he got out Miles has been receiving strange, threatening emails. Someone is convinced the courts are wrong, that he was responsible that night and needs to pay… I have been quite slow with my reading lately but I absolutely wolfed this down in just a couple of sittings. The story is engaging and I found that the small cast of characters and later enclosed motorhome setting helped maintain a quick pace. There are a few different mysteries at hand to unpick, with different motives, but they are well seeded so the reader is able to guess along. I think I had about a 70% success rate! A great debut!
I have been quite slow with my reading lately but I absolutely wolfed this down in just a couple of sittings. The story is engaging and I found that the small cast of characters and later enclosed motorhome setting helped maintain a quick pace. There are a few different mysteries at hand to unpick, with different motives, but they are well seeded so the reader is able to guess along. I think I had about a 70% success rate! A great debut!
Thank you to the author for an ARC.
Miles and Ciara have the perfect first date. If you overlook the fact that by morning Ciara is found dead and Miles is on trial for her murder…A year later Miles is acquitted and trying to rebuild his life. During his time in prison, he clung to the idea of travelling when he got out. And this is what he chooses to do with his sister and close group of friends. It’s not long before they trot off to New Zealand in order to escape the media circus that clouds Miles’ release.
A year later Miles is acquitted and trying to rebuild his life. During his time in prison, he clung to the idea of travelling when he got out. And this is what he chooses to do with his sister and close group of friends. It’s not long before they trot off to New Zealand in order to escape the media circus that clouds Miles’ release.Since he got out Miles has been receiving strange, threatening emails. Someone is convinced the courts are wrong, that he was responsible that night and needs to pay…
Since he got out Miles has been receiving strange, threatening emails. Someone is convinced the courts are wrong, that he was responsible that night and needs to pay… I have been quite slow with my reading lately but I absolutely wolfed this down in just a couple of sittings. The story is engaging and I found that the small cast of characters and later enclosed motorhome setting helped maintain a quick pace. There are a few different mysteries at hand to unpick, with different motives, but they are well seeded so the reader is able to guess along. I think I had about a 70% success rate! A great debut!
I have been quite slow with my reading lately but I absolutely wolfed this down in just a couple of sittings. The story is engaging and I found that the small cast of characters and later enclosed motorhome setting helped maintain a quick pace. There are a few different mysteries at hand to unpick, with different motives, but they are well seeded so the reader is able to guess along. I think I had about a 70% success rate! A great debut!
Thank you to the author for an ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Date is a sharp, twist‑tight thriller that starts with a nightmare scenario and only grows more claustrophobic from there. A year after a perfect first date ends in murder, Miles Deverill is technically a free man—but the novel makes it clear from the start that freedom and innocence aren’t the same thing. Acquitted or not, Miles can’t outrun the headlines, the whispers, or the shadow of Caira Kennedy’s death.
What I loved is how the book leans into that uneasy space between guilt and perception. Miles is trying to rebuild his life, but the world won’t let him forget—and then the messages begin. Threatening, taunting, and delivered in Caira’s own voice. It’s a wonderfully eerie touch, blurring the line between haunting and manipulation, and it sets the tone for the paranoia that follows.
When Miles escapes on a remote road trip with friends, the story shifts into a darker, more isolated register. The forest setting is atmospheric and unsettling, the kind of place where sound carries strangely and trust thins quickly. So when another murder strikes—this time within their group—the tension snaps tight. Someone close to Miles knows exactly what happened on that first date, and the book becomes a clever, spiralling puzzle of truth, lies, and the stories we tell to protect ourselves.
The Date is fast, twisty, and compulsively readable, with that delicious sense of dread that builds quietly until it’s suddenly everywhere. It’s a story about guilt, perception, and the terrifying possibility that the past isn’t finished with you, no matter how far you run.
A gripping, atmospheric thriller where every character feels like a suspect and every truth comes with a cost.
With thanks to TH Murdock, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
What I loved is how the book leans into that uneasy space between guilt and perception. Miles is trying to rebuild his life, but the world won’t let him forget—and then the messages begin. Threatening, taunting, and delivered in Caira’s own voice. It’s a wonderfully eerie touch, blurring the line between haunting and manipulation, and it sets the tone for the paranoia that follows.
When Miles escapes on a remote road trip with friends, the story shifts into a darker, more isolated register. The forest setting is atmospheric and unsettling, the kind of place where sound carries strangely and trust thins quickly. So when another murder strikes—this time within their group—the tension snaps tight. Someone close to Miles knows exactly what happened on that first date, and the book becomes a clever, spiralling puzzle of truth, lies, and the stories we tell to protect ourselves.
The Date is fast, twisty, and compulsively readable, with that delicious sense of dread that builds quietly until it’s suddenly everywhere. It’s a story about guilt, perception, and the terrifying possibility that the past isn’t finished with you, no matter how far you run.
A gripping, atmospheric thriller where every character feels like a suspect and every truth comes with a cost.
With thanks to TH Murdock, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
April 10, 2026
I was gifted an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for this opportunity.
The Date is a well-written, expertly paced thriller from the start. Fans of multiple POV will love this one, as the author effortlessly weaves a varied cast of players together from chapter to chapter.
The book begins with a murder trial, the main character accused of murdering a woman he went on a single date with. After being acquitted, he embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand with his sister and a handful of friends, where tension begins to build between everyone for various reasons before the plane even leaves the ground.
This was a page-turner for me. I really enjoyed the way the author breadcrumbed details throughout, and it came to a satisfying conclusion. The twists weren’t obvious, but not so outlandish that they couldn’t be at least partially guessed. (It’s a pet peeve of mine when the reader doesn’t have enough information to be clued into the structure of a twist in any way.) I would definitely read another novel by this author!
The Date is a well-written, expertly paced thriller from the start. Fans of multiple POV will love this one, as the author effortlessly weaves a varied cast of players together from chapter to chapter.
The book begins with a murder trial, the main character accused of murdering a woman he went on a single date with. After being acquitted, he embarks on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New Zealand with his sister and a handful of friends, where tension begins to build between everyone for various reasons before the plane even leaves the ground.
This was a page-turner for me. I really enjoyed the way the author breadcrumbed details throughout, and it came to a satisfying conclusion. The twists weren’t obvious, but not so outlandish that they couldn’t be at least partially guessed. (It’s a pet peeve of mine when the reader doesn’t have enough information to be clued into the structure of a twist in any way.) I would definitely read another novel by this author!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Miles Deverill, after a one-year nightmare, is acquitted of the murder of a young woman, Caira, who died on the night of their first and only date. In order to escape the media frenzy, and a series of threatening messages, Miles, his sister, and some friends, set off on a trip to New Zealand. While there, they meet a couple of young women who accompany them on a caravan trip into a remote New Zealand forest. When one of the campers is found murdered, everyone is on edge and eager to leave the remote forest so they can report the death and get help. However, relentless, torrential rain, and their disabled camper make it impossible to flee.
While I mostly enjoyed this suspenseful tale, the rainy time in the camper dragged a lot, not only for Miles and his friends, but for the reader, also. The characters all seemed to have something to hide, and this added to the complex mystery of who killed Caira and who is now stalking Miles. I would gladly read other titles by this author, though I would hope the pacing would be a bit improved.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
While I mostly enjoyed this suspenseful tale, the rainy time in the camper dragged a lot, not only for Miles and his friends, but for the reader, also. The characters all seemed to have something to hide, and this added to the complex mystery of who killed Caira and who is now stalking Miles. I would gladly read other titles by this author, though I would hope the pacing would be a bit improved.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Tomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this book.
The Date is a tense and enjoyable read. I really liked T.H. Murdock's writing style and the short chapters. The narrative structure—jumping between the present tense and past snippets from Miles’s trial across a few different POVs—builds and layers the suspense.
The official book blurb feels a little deceptive, as the characters don't reach the forest until the 50% mark. However, the steady build-up and sharp prose make the journey worth it.
Miles is an interesting main character. The story keeps you questioning his guilt or innocence regarding what actually happened to Ciara, acting as a hook that keeps you turning pages right up to the reveal. With its escalating tension and a good twist, it’s a solid thriller from start to finish.
#NetGalley #TheDate
The Date is a tense and enjoyable read. I really liked T.H. Murdock's writing style and the short chapters. The narrative structure—jumping between the present tense and past snippets from Miles’s trial across a few different POVs—builds and layers the suspense.
The official book blurb feels a little deceptive, as the characters don't reach the forest until the 50% mark. However, the steady build-up and sharp prose make the journey worth it.
Miles is an interesting main character. The story keeps you questioning his guilt or innocence regarding what actually happened to Ciara, acting as a hook that keeps you turning pages right up to the reveal. With its escalating tension and a good twist, it’s a solid thriller from start to finish.
#NetGalley #TheDate
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise is so engaging. A year after a first and only day miles is acquitted of murder. In order to get his head together and avoid the trolls and his stalker he embacks on a trip with his sister and pals to new zealand. Queue an engaging thriller where you arent sure where the story is going and if Miles is trully innocent. It took a while to get going and let me in for a thrill ride as i tried to work out who the stalker was and was miles guilty. This was a binge read full of characters and flawed arc. The final reveal blew me away and tied everything together. I like the emotion side of the character and their past and the loyalty between them. This is perfect for anyone who likes to explore the what is the truth and what is the lie. Thank you so much netgallery, author and publisher
May 9, 2026
This thriller had me hooked from the very first page. A murder after a first date? A man haunted by accusations? Mysterious messages from someone who’s supposed to be dead? I absolutely could not stop reading.
Miles was such an interesting main character because I was constantly questioning whether he was innocent or hiding something darker. The isolated road trip setting added so much tension, and once the group reached the forest, the suspense became nonstop. Every chapter left me second-guessing everything and everyone.
The story perfectly blended psychological suspense with classic whodunit tension, and the twists kept coming right up until the end. Dark, fast-paced, and impossible to put down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: murder, stalking, emotional manipulation, violence, grief, paranoia, and death.
Miles was such an interesting main character because I was constantly questioning whether he was innocent or hiding something darker. The isolated road trip setting added so much tension, and once the group reached the forest, the suspense became nonstop. Every chapter left me second-guessing everything and everyone.
The story perfectly blended psychological suspense with classic whodunit tension, and the twists kept coming right up until the end. Dark, fast-paced, and impossible to put down.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: murder, stalking, emotional manipulation, violence, grief, paranoia, and death.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
'The Date' leans into psychological suspense, opening with a hook that’s difficult to ignore: a seemingly perfect first date that ends in murder and a man who may or may not have gotten away with it. The pacing is strong, particularly in the latter half, though the early sections can feel a bit repetitive as Miles wrestles with his past. Still, that repetition reinforces his instability and fear, which pays off once the plot accelerates. The final revelations land with enough impact to satisfy thriller readers. The Date is a tense, fast-moving read that blends media scrutiny, psychological unease, and classic whodunit elements. It delivers a gripping premise with enough twists and paranoia to keep you questioning what really happened long after that first date ended.
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March 17, 2026Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
This book was intense and I finished it in one day.
Miles was accused of murder after a date with a womaand it took more than a year for him to finally be declared innocent.
He decides to disappear to New Zealand with his good friends to avoid the British paparazzi. Unfortunately, it doesn't go as planned. Someone is harassing and threatening him anonymously, going to NZ didn't go as planned, he's still being followed.
The story kept me hooked all the way to the shocking and unbelievable ending ... so good, I loved it!
This book was intense and I finished it in one day.
Miles was accused of murder after a date with a womaand it took more than a year for him to finally be declared innocent.
He decides to disappear to New Zealand with his good friends to avoid the British paparazzi. Unfortunately, it doesn't go as planned. Someone is harassing and threatening him anonymously, going to NZ didn't go as planned, he's still being followed.
The story kept me hooked all the way to the shocking and unbelievable ending ... so good, I loved it!
March 24, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the early copy of this one!
This book had me hooked pretty quickly. It was suspenseful and kept me questioning things the whole time, which I love in a thriller. I kept going back and forth on what I thought actually happened.
By the end, I felt pretty confident in who Caira’s killer was, but getting there was still a fun ride. It definitely kept my attention and I ended up really enjoying it overall.
A solid, engaging read that’s worth picking up.
This book had me hooked pretty quickly. It was suspenseful and kept me questioning things the whole time, which I love in a thriller. I kept going back and forth on what I thought actually happened.
By the end, I felt pretty confident in who Caira’s killer was, but getting there was still a fun ride. It definitely kept my attention and I ended up really enjoying it overall.
A solid, engaging read that’s worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of the best thrillers I've read in a hot minute. Twisty, sharp and addictive with perfect pacing - I couldn't put it down. The characters are well-developed and kept me guessing until the very last page. It also intelligently tackles complex themes, such as guilt, shame and toxic masculinity, without feeling heavy handed. An incredibly accomplished and very exciting debut novel, I can't recommend it enough.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book really kept me hooked from start to finish. I liked how the author gradually revealed clues along the way, leading up to an ending that felt well-earned. The twists were surprising without being unrealistic—you could actually piece some of them together if you paid attention. I especially appreciated that the story gave readers a fair chance to catch on, instead of dropping completely random surprises. I’d absolutely pick up another book by this writer.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fast read, quite a few characters to keep up with. I suspected every single one of them of murdering Caira!
Not that I thought Miles, who was acquitted, was innocent.
You will definitely want to know who the killer was - although I was surprised to find out who it was.
Gripping, tense and suspenseful.
4/5 stars from me.
Not that I thought Miles, who was acquitted, was innocent.
You will definitely want to know who the killer was - although I was surprised to find out who it was.
Gripping, tense and suspenseful.
4/5 stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Date is completely addictive. It grips you from the first sentence and doesn’t let you go until the very end. Murdock’s writing is sharp and witty, his characters beautifully crafted, and the plot perfectly paced. I’m usually good at guessing twists, but not this time. Clearly an author to watch, I cannot wait for his next thriller.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An ARC from Netgalley
In this cracking thriller you can expect:
🌹 Multiple pov
🌹 An intriguing storyline
🌹 To assume you know who did it, but you don't
🌹 A huge twist you wont see coming
I mean I am getting better and better at seeing things coming, twists and who did it! But not this time! It was the last person I would have expected it to be!
Out in July 2026!
In this cracking thriller you can expect:
🌹 Multiple pov
🌹 An intriguing storyline
🌹 To assume you know who did it, but you don't
🌹 A huge twist you wont see coming
I mean I am getting better and better at seeing things coming, twists and who did it! But not this time! It was the last person I would have expected it to be!
Out in July 2026!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Loved this! The Date is a superior thriller that's tightly plotted and expertly executed. I didn't guess the ending and it kept me wondering until the last page. I look forward to reading more of T.H.Murdock's thrillers - he's an author to watch.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews