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The Wicked Girls: The brand-new chilling psychological suspense mystery of gripping family secrets and a deadly small-town legend – perfect for fans of Lucy Foley in 2026!
Not yet published
Expected 10 Sep 26'Atmospheric, creepy, immersive, chilling' Andrea MaraAn atmospheric psychological thriller with a gothic twist from the author of The Red House.
A BIZARRE SERIES OF DEATHS
In the Cornish village of Peneerie, a tragedy is unfolding. Girls are dying on their seventeenth birthdays and no one can explain why. Some say it’s a curse; others a psychological phenomenon known as suicide contagion. What Kat knows is her daughter Ruby’s birthday is fast approaching.
A CURSE AWOKEN
Villagers talk anxiously of Eliza, a serving girl in the local manor house who took her own life on her seventeenth birthday nearly two hundred years ago. She cursed the girls of the village to never see womanhood.
A MOTHER PREPARED TO DO ANYTHING
Kat is determined that Ruby won’t be the next to die, by any means necessary. As she races to unravel Eliza’s Curse, Kat will have to confront the ghosts of the past and shocking truths about the world she lives in. But how far will she go to protect her daughter? And what will it cost to break the cycle of tragedy before it’s too late?
A BIZARRE SERIES OF DEATHS
In the Cornish village of Peneerie, a tragedy is unfolding. Girls are dying on their seventeenth birthdays and no one can explain why. Some say it’s a curse; others a psychological phenomenon known as suicide contagion. What Kat knows is her daughter Ruby’s birthday is fast approaching.
A CURSE AWOKEN
Villagers talk anxiously of Eliza, a serving girl in the local manor house who took her own life on her seventeenth birthday nearly two hundred years ago. She cursed the girls of the village to never see womanhood.
A MOTHER PREPARED TO DO ANYTHING
Kat is determined that Ruby won’t be the next to die, by any means necessary. As she races to unravel Eliza’s Curse, Kat will have to confront the ghosts of the past and shocking truths about the world she lives in. But how far will she go to protect her daughter? And what will it cost to break the cycle of tragedy before it’s too late?
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 10, 2026
About the author
Roz Watkins
13 books144 followersRoz Watkins is the author of the DI Meg Dalton crime series, which is set in the Peak District where she lives with her partner and a menagerie of demanding animals.
Her first book, THE DEVIL'S DICE, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award, and has been optioned by ITV Studios.
Roz originally studied engineering and natural sciences at Cambridge, before studying patent law. She was a partner in a firm of patent attorneys in Derby, but this has absolutely nothing to do with there being a dead one in her first book.
In her spare time, Roz clicker-trains her dog and horse, and likes to walk in the Peak District, scouting out murder locations.
Her first book, THE DEVIL'S DICE, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award, and has been optioned by ITV Studios.
Roz originally studied engineering and natural sciences at Cambridge, before studying patent law. She was a partner in a firm of patent attorneys in Derby, but this has absolutely nothing to do with there being a dead one in her first book.
In her spare time, Roz clicker-trains her dog and horse, and likes to walk in the Peak District, scouting out murder locations.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 4, 2026
2.5 stars. I really wanted to like this, but it just didn’t quite work for me. I did enjoy the creepy atmosphere, especially the legend of the curse, and the eerie setting.
I felt the ending was a bit of a letdown and I was expecting bigger plot twists.
Overall, I loved the premise and the spooky atmosphere, but the payoff just wasn’t there for me.
I felt the ending was a bit of a letdown and I was expecting bigger plot twists.
Overall, I loved the premise and the spooky atmosphere, but the payoff just wasn’t there for me.
August 9, 2026
Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me this free advance copy, and I’m writing this review honestly and without bias.
Not my favourite by this author but it's an interesting read combining old folklore with modern day issues. Roz Watkins does capture the eerie atmosphere really well especially the ouija board moments. I liked the character of Kat and the reveal of why she is like she is comes late on so added to the intrigue. The pace is slightly off for me, it drifts slightly in the middle but the author does pull it back towards the end. Some good twists at the end. 3.5 ⭐️
July 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy.
Roz Watkins has a real talent for creating an unsettling atmosphere, and The Wicked Girls is no exception. From the first few chapters I was completely drawn into the mystery, with the Cornish setting and local folklore adding an eerie edge throughout.
I really enjoyed Kat as the central character. Her determination to protect her daughter, Ruby, as girls in the village begin dying on their seventeenth birthdays made the story feel as emotional as it was suspenseful. I liked that I was never quite sure whether there was something supernatural at work or whether the truth was rooted in the past.
The tension builds steadily, the characters feel believable, and there were enough twists to keep me turning the pages.
A gripping, atmospheric thriller that blends folklore, family secrets and suspense really well. Another enjoyable read from Roz Watkins.
Roz Watkins has a real talent for creating an unsettling atmosphere, and The Wicked Girls is no exception. From the first few chapters I was completely drawn into the mystery, with the Cornish setting and local folklore adding an eerie edge throughout.
I really enjoyed Kat as the central character. Her determination to protect her daughter, Ruby, as girls in the village begin dying on their seventeenth birthdays made the story feel as emotional as it was suspenseful. I liked that I was never quite sure whether there was something supernatural at work or whether the truth was rooted in the past.
The tension builds steadily, the characters feel believable, and there were enough twists to keep me turning the pages.
A gripping, atmospheric thriller that blends folklore, family secrets and suspense really well. Another enjoyable read from Roz Watkins.
June 21, 2026
My second book by Roz Watkins and definitely not my last. What I enjoy most about her writing is how effortlessly she creates an eerie atmosphere without overdoing it. The Wicked Girls felt dark, intriguing and unsettling in all the right ways.
The story slowly draws you in, revealing layer after layer until you realise there’s much more going on than you first thought. I particularly enjoyed how the characters weren’t straightforward and how the past and present intertwined throughout the story.
A well-crafted crime thriller with plenty of suspense and an ending that left me satisfied. Roz Watkins is quickly becoming one of those authors whose books I’ll pick up without even reading the blurb.
The story slowly draws you in, revealing layer after layer until you realise there’s much more going on than you first thought. I particularly enjoyed how the characters weren’t straightforward and how the past and present intertwined throughout the story.
A well-crafted crime thriller with plenty of suspense and an ending that left me satisfied. Roz Watkins is quickly becoming one of those authors whose books I’ll pick up without even reading the blurb.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A creepy and unusual psychological thriller that mixes modern day issues with old folklore and superstition. I really enjoyed the combination of hysteria, mind games and the question of whether what’s happening is supernatural or psychological.
The Cornish setting was lovely and added to the eerie atmosphere, and I enjoyed the plot and the twists. There was something quite unique about the story, and I liked the darker themes around fear, influence and the power of the mind.
I enjoyed this one, but it didn’t completely blow me away. I liked the atmosphere, setting and storyline, but it just felt like it was missing that little something for me.
The Cornish setting was lovely and added to the eerie atmosphere, and I enjoyed the plot and the twists. There was something quite unique about the story, and I liked the darker themes around fear, influence and the power of the mind.
I enjoyed this one, but it didn’t completely blow me away. I liked the atmosphere, setting and storyline, but it just felt like it was missing that little something for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 ⭐
Good mix of present day issues and creepy curse from the olden days, showing sometimes, things don't change that much.
There's a bit of a slow reveal on Kat and why she is the way she is, but it's done really well.
I found a lot of it easy to guess where it was going, but those bits I didn't were especially good.
Full of atmosphere and menace, it's a very good read.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.
Good mix of present day issues and creepy curse from the olden days, showing sometimes, things don't change that much.
There's a bit of a slow reveal on Kat and why she is the way she is, but it's done really well.
I found a lot of it easy to guess where it was going, but those bits I didn't were especially good.
Full of atmosphere and menace, it's a very good read.
Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Imagine if Gillian Flynn moved to Cornwall…
Why are the girls from the tiny village of Peneerie all dying on their 17th birthdays?
The Wicked Girls by Roz Watkins takes you beyond the cream teas and cozy holiday cottages to the darker side of Cornwall, weaving together ripped-from-the-headlines cultural issues with creepy Cornish history and folklore. Whip-smart and deliciously dark, this was the best psychological thriller l've read in a long time!
Why are the girls from the tiny village of Peneerie all dying on their 17th birthdays?
The Wicked Girls by Roz Watkins takes you beyond the cream teas and cozy holiday cottages to the darker side of Cornwall, weaving together ripped-from-the-headlines cultural issues with creepy Cornish history and folklore. Whip-smart and deliciously dark, this was the best psychological thriller l've read in a long time!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Loved the mystery of this, the folklore was so creepy.
Kat was a great character, so determined to protect her daughter, definitely a protagonist you want fighting your corner.
The tension builds slowly and I really enjoyed the mystery around the Eliza’s and found the descriptions of the doll so freaky!.
Add this atmospheric thriller to your TBR.
Talking reviews as @mrsbookburnee on insta/tiktok
Kat was a great character, so determined to protect her daughter, definitely a protagonist you want fighting your corner.
The tension builds slowly and I really enjoyed the mystery around the Eliza’s and found the descriptions of the doll so freaky!.
Add this atmospheric thriller to your TBR.
Talking reviews as @mrsbookburnee on insta/tiktok
August 16, 2026
This was a great concept for a book and I enjoyed how it combined modern day issues with old folklore and curses. I liked how the plot unfolded and the twist but for me, the novel was overly long and I did feel my attention waning. I was compelled to finish it though so would rate it 3.5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A twisty and absorbing thriller with a hugely satisfying reveal. I raced through it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews