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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!
'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?
- GenresThriller
396 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 10, 2026
About the author
Roz Watkins
13 books145 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 4, 2026
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 ⭐️
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
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Wicked Girls by Roz Watkins is a pacey, atmospheric thriller set in a small Cornish village.
I feel it would be wise to include a trigger warning at this point as the main plot involves heavy talk of suicide, SA, violence towards women (amongst other things).
The plot focuses on the idea of a curse place on the village where all girls would die on their seventeenth birthday after a servant girl, Eliza, was pushed to suicide when her master took advantage of her and left her alone when it was discovered she was pregnant with his child. Thus begins the legend of the “dark Eliza's” – a group of young girls who seem to be copying Eliza and jumping to their deaths.
Around 200 years later, a young girl called Naomi is driven to suicide on her seventeenth birthday. Eliza’s curse seems to be starting again when more girls kill themselves in the same spot leading to claims a new suicide contagion is in progress (the girls are all part of the same friendship group).
The story switches between the viewpoint of Ruby, a girl whose seventeenth birthday is days away, and her mother Kat. Kat vows to get to the bottom of what is happening before it can take Ruby from her.
Roz Watkins delivers a pacey and atmospheric thriller. The backdrop of the Cornish coast is the perfect setting for a creepy mystery, and, while the writing was fast paced, a lot of it was very repetitive. Ruby was always in a mood about something, or trashing her favourite things whereas Kat was always misunderstood or struggling to function. The rest of the girls were the typical spoilt, bitchy teenagers. It was really hard to relate to any of them in the end. The only character I had any time for was Mazey the dog.
The first half of the book was excellent in setting up the premise of the curse but in the end, it didn’t really go anywhere and there were far too many subplots running concurrently. Many of them were left unresolved. I struggled to get through the final third, and the twist was a bit of a letdown.
Overall, it’s a quick and okay read for a rainy weekend but it definitely promised more than it gave. I really enjoyed the first half and the creepy side of the story but ultimately it left me feeling a bit flat once the final page was turned.
The Wicked Girls by Roz Watkins is a pacey, atmospheric thriller set in a small Cornish village.
I feel it would be wise to include a trigger warning at this point as the main plot involves heavy talk of suicide, SA, violence towards women (amongst other things).
The plot focuses on the idea of a curse place on the village where all girls would die on their seventeenth birthday after a servant girl, Eliza, was pushed to suicide when her master took advantage of her and left her alone when it was discovered she was pregnant with his child. Thus begins the legend of the “dark Eliza's” – a group of young girls who seem to be copying Eliza and jumping to their deaths.
Around 200 years later, a young girl called Naomi is driven to suicide on her seventeenth birthday. Eliza’s curse seems to be starting again when more girls kill themselves in the same spot leading to claims a new suicide contagion is in progress (the girls are all part of the same friendship group).
The story switches between the viewpoint of Ruby, a girl whose seventeenth birthday is days away, and her mother Kat. Kat vows to get to the bottom of what is happening before it can take Ruby from her.
Roz Watkins delivers a pacey and atmospheric thriller. The backdrop of the Cornish coast is the perfect setting for a creepy mystery, and, while the writing was fast paced, a lot of it was very repetitive. Ruby was always in a mood about something, or trashing her favourite things whereas Kat was always misunderstood or struggling to function. The rest of the girls were the typical spoilt, bitchy teenagers. It was really hard to relate to any of them in the end. The only character I had any time for was Mazey the dog.
The first half of the book was excellent in setting up the premise of the curse but in the end, it didn’t really go anywhere and there were far too many subplots running concurrently. Many of them were left unresolved. I struggled to get through the final third, and the twist was a bit of a letdown.
Overall, it’s a quick and okay read for a rainy weekend but it definitely promised more than it gave. I really enjoyed the first half and the creepy side of the story but ultimately it left me feeling a bit flat once the final page was turned.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Wicked Girls is the tense new novel by Roz Watkins. Set in a small village in Cornwall, the novel opens with a horrific scene when a young girl, who has just turned seventeen, plunges to her death after falling from a cliff edge, in front of the mother of one of her school friends. The young girl’s death shocks everyone, but the most shocking thing is that she will not be the first girl to die. The deaths might be linked to an ancient curse that all local girls will die on their seventeenth birthday, and it’s soon feared that history might be about to repeat itself, as something very similar took place centuries ago.
It is clear to see how much the fear grips the locals. Kat, the main character, is a little less inclined to believe in the supernatural. But this doesn’t stop her from becoming fiercely protective and worried for her daughter, Ruby, who is due to turn seventeen. Even though Kat is sceptical about the idea of the curse, especially when her mother starts getting involved with her own psychic predictions, she’s determined to stop Ruby from suffering from the same fate as her friend. I could really feel Kat’s love for her daughter, and I rooted for her throughout the novel.
Roz Watkins brilliantly built a creepy atmosphere around the old house, where the curse is said to have originated. It felt as though something evil was at work here. This created a real sense of danger. I loved how isolated the house felt, which added even more to the supernatural elements and the suspense. This was built on further with the addition of the doll a group of friends, which included Ruby, found there.
The atmosphere of The Wicked Girls kept me hooked as I waited to find out if the curse would take another victim. I wondered if something more was going on here. There is a chilling finale that brings a satisfying end to the mystery. This novel is perfect with spooky season just around the corner.
It is clear to see how much the fear grips the locals. Kat, the main character, is a little less inclined to believe in the supernatural. But this doesn’t stop her from becoming fiercely protective and worried for her daughter, Ruby, who is due to turn seventeen. Even though Kat is sceptical about the idea of the curse, especially when her mother starts getting involved with her own psychic predictions, she’s determined to stop Ruby from suffering from the same fate as her friend. I could really feel Kat’s love for her daughter, and I rooted for her throughout the novel.
Roz Watkins brilliantly built a creepy atmosphere around the old house, where the curse is said to have originated. It felt as though something evil was at work here. This created a real sense of danger. I loved how isolated the house felt, which added even more to the supernatural elements and the suspense. This was built on further with the addition of the doll a group of friends, which included Ruby, found there.
The atmosphere of The Wicked Girls kept me hooked as I waited to find out if the curse would take another victim. I wondered if something more was going on here. There is a chilling finale that brings a satisfying end to the mystery. This novel is perfect with spooky season just around the corner.
July 25, 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.
September 11, 2026
Creepy, chilling, and a masterclass in suspense!
The Wicked Girls is an absolute masterclass in slow-burn psychological thriller. The premise is terrifying, and the story clutched my heart all the way through. Watkins handles deeply troubling contemporary issues without flinching. The neo-gothic atmosphere is at once relatable and suffused with dread, superstition and folklore. Watkins excels at keeping us guessing throughout. This rich and deeply satisfying thriller weaves the ordinariness of teenage coming-of-age struggles and modern parenting challenges with much darker social ills. Above all else, however, The Wicked Girls' defining triumphs are its plotting, pace, and masterful twists and turns in the service of a thought-provoking, heart-pounding psychological thriller. What an absolutely stunning read. Roz Watkins is at the absolute top of her game. Highly recommended.
The Wicked Girls is an absolute masterclass in slow-burn psychological thriller. The premise is terrifying, and the story clutched my heart all the way through. Watkins handles deeply troubling contemporary issues without flinching. The neo-gothic atmosphere is at once relatable and suffused with dread, superstition and folklore. Watkins excels at keeping us guessing throughout. This rich and deeply satisfying thriller weaves the ordinariness of teenage coming-of-age struggles and modern parenting challenges with much darker social ills. Above all else, however, The Wicked Girls' defining triumphs are its plotting, pace, and masterful twists and turns in the service of a thought-provoking, heart-pounding psychological thriller. What an absolutely stunning read. Roz Watkins is at the absolute top of her game. Highly recommended.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What would you do if your daughter's seventeenth birthday came with a death sentence?
The Wicked Girls by Roz Watkins is a spine-tingling slow burn that is completely perfect for the upcoming spooky season.
Set against a windswept, hauntingly bleak Cornish backdrop, the story seamlessly interweaves dark ancient folklore with a deeply unsettling modern mystery.
Kat's fierce, unwavering determination to protect her daughter, Ruby, from a terrifying local curse is the absolute heart of the novel. Facing a history of tragic deaths and confronting her own deep-rooted fears, Kat proves just how far a mother will go to save her child. Dark, compelling, and intensely suspenseful, it's a brilliant, gripping read!
My thanks to Netgalley and HQ Stories for the ARC. All views are my own.
The Wicked Girls by Roz Watkins is a spine-tingling slow burn that is completely perfect for the upcoming spooky season.
Set against a windswept, hauntingly bleak Cornish backdrop, the story seamlessly interweaves dark ancient folklore with a deeply unsettling modern mystery.
Kat's fierce, unwavering determination to protect her daughter, Ruby, from a terrifying local curse is the absolute heart of the novel. Facing a history of tragic deaths and confronting her own deep-rooted fears, Kat proves just how far a mother will go to save her child. Dark, compelling, and intensely suspenseful, it's a brilliant, gripping read!
My thanks to Netgalley and HQ Stories for the ARC. All views are my own.
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.
September 12, 2026
3.5 stars
This is a good mystery thriller.
The book begins with a young girl, who has just turned seventeen, plunging to her death from a cliff edge in front of Kat.
Her death shocks everyone, but when Kat hears that her death might be linked to an ancient curse that all local girls will die on their seventeenth birthday, she's desperately worried about her daughter, Ruby.
Ruby is seventeen in a few weeks and even though Kat is sceptical about the idea of the curse, she’s determined to stop Ruby from suffering the same fate as her friend.
This is a slow burner but is a good read.
Thanks to HQ for the opportunity to read this book.
This is a good mystery thriller.
The book begins with a young girl, who has just turned seventeen, plunging to her death from a cliff edge in front of Kat.
Her death shocks everyone, but when Kat hears that her death might be linked to an ancient curse that all local girls will die on their seventeenth birthday, she's desperately worried about her daughter, Ruby.
Ruby is seventeen in a few weeks and even though Kat is sceptical about the idea of the curse, she’s determined to stop Ruby from suffering the same fate as her friend.
This is a slow burner but is a good read.
Thanks to HQ for the opportunity to read this book.
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
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was very intrigued by the curse, and there were chapters that gave a creepy atmosphere, however I expected a lot more from this part of the story overall. I struggled in places, the pacing didn’t feel balanced and elements were a little repetitive. I enjoyed the multiple POV and timeline, as well as Kat and her backstory. There’s twists throughout but I didn’t feel shock, and the ending was a bit flat for me.
2.5⭐️ rounded up
2.5⭐️ rounded up
September 10, 2026
The Wicked Girls feels fresh, original and genuinely surprising. Roz Watkins brilliantly blends psychological suspense with elements of gothic horror, creating an atmosphere that is eerie and unsettling without ever becoming predictable. The tension builds beautifully, the twists keep shifting the ground beneath your feet, and the line between superstition and reality is handled with real skill. A clever, gripping and wonderfully atmospheric read.
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.
Read
September 16, 2026A well-written thriller that tackles hysteria, herd mentality, mind games, sexual violence and misogyny.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
September 21, 2026
I lovedddd The Red House, so I was looking forward to this. But it was a very hit-and-miss book for me.
There were some very creepy scenes, but it was a tad repetitive at times, and the overall message felt kind of messy.
There were some very creepy scenes, but it was a tad repetitive at times, and the overall message felt kind of messy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A twisty and absorbing thriller with a hugely satisfying reveal. I raced through it!
September 17, 2026
3.75 🎂🌊🕯️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A deliciously dark and atmospheric thriller!
I loved this moody and twisty thriller that peaks under the lace table cloths and beach towels of cosy Cornwall and reveals its dark underbelly. The interweaving of Cornish folklore and buried childhood trauma is superbly done, ratcheting up the tension and sense of unease as the past and present collide. The characters feel painfully authentic, especially the women at the centre of the story who guilt, fear and loyalty twist and collide to a blistering conclusion. It is a gripping thriller with a message that lingers long after you've finished.
I loved this moody and twisty thriller that peaks under the lace table cloths and beach towels of cosy Cornwall and reveals its dark underbelly. The interweaving of Cornish folklore and buried childhood trauma is superbly done, ratcheting up the tension and sense of unease as the past and present collide. The characters feel painfully authentic, especially the women at the centre of the story who guilt, fear and loyalty twist and collide to a blistering conclusion. It is a gripping thriller with a message that lingers long after you've finished.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews