The Mortician: A gripping thriller where secrets lead to deadly consequences

by Sharon Bolton

A young woman marches at the head of a funeral procession, respectfully guiding the dead to their final resting place.

No-one knows her past holds a terrible secret. When she was a child, a stranger broke into her family home, killing her father and seriously wounding her mother. The murderer has never been caught and the mystery haunts the young woman to this day.

When someone arrives claiming to know what happened that night, the undertaker has to confront the trauma of her childhood. Maybe some secrets are best taken to the grave. . .

Based on a true story this thriller is sure to delight Sharon's existing fans and new readers alike.

Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 5, 2026

Reviews

[Donna]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for giving me this free advance copy, and I’m writing this review honestly and without bias.
Another cracking read from the stable of Sharon Bolton. This had me gripped from start to finish. It's based on a true story although the very talented author has certainly made it her own. With two storylines running alongside each other it makes for a complex but easy to follow plot. Full of wonderful and dubious characters that have been portrayed with a touch of realism. The pace is spot on in this dark and gritty thriller with many a twist along the way. A unique storyline and dead bodies have never been so fascinating! One of my favourites of Sharon's and this will be flying off the shelves. Five massive stars

[Ceecee]

A gang, brutal murders, orphans and a mortician.

Mortician Ella Foxton prides herself on going the extra mile for her clients, honouring the dead. Late one evening, the peace of her workplace is shattered by the arrival of notorious gang leader Jonny Massey, accompanied by various nefarious members of his crew. He demands her best attention for his late brother, Jimmy. As she works on his body she comes to the realisation that it’s not just Jimmy’s body he wants buried but an abundance of secrets, one in particular that will tie them to a double homicide investigation led by DS Brian Rushton. Ella is caught between a rock and a hard place and has huge decisions to make as every dead body has a story to tell, often one that can only lead to danger.

“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers,
but to be fearless in facing them”.
Rabindranath Tagore
There’s plenty of danger here especially from the notorious Massey gang whose warning approach is enough to strike fear into the bravest of hearts and which certainly strikes fear into my heart. If that’s not enough there’s another gangs threats to navigate. So, it’s a very good job that a couple of characters here, who at huge personal risk, enter where few others would have the guts to. There’s bravery and heartbreak which intensifies with time. The characterisation is excellent, some to root for and some to despise.

I love Sharon Boltons’s books, she always delivers something as gritty, dark and brooding as some of the Lancashire landscapes. The plot is complex but easy to follow and has plenty of substance. As predicted, it’s as twisty as and a buckle up tight read. At times, the tension and suspense is so intense I can scarcely breathe as the menace faced is huge as the gang always seem to be one step ahead. I like how the storylines connect together as it propels forward to a good ending.

Overall, this has bestseller written all over it and is yet another addictive page turner from an excellent mystery/thriller author. Be sure to read SB’s afterword to discover how the novel comes about.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Alison Taylor-Muhl]

Having read and thoroughly enjoyed all of Sharon Bolton’s back catalogue, I was keen to get my hands on her latest offering – it didn’t disappoint! This is a gritty thriller, very dark in places and there is an air danger from the off. The plot is complex, but the story is told in a straightforward manner, so it was easy to follow the clues to work out the twist, which I assume was the authors objective. There is tension and suspense a plenty, and the menace the Massey gang brings – in particular the teenage gang members with their deathwatch rattles are the stuff of nightmares.

The characters are well written and well developed, but I found I didn’t really like anyone, which I believe is testament to the skill of the author. Each of the key characters is harbouring their own secrets, some leading to deadly consequences. All in all, this is a gripping and pacy thriller, which is sure to become a bestseller. The author also includes a very interesting afterword, be sure not to miss it.

[Saffy]

I’ve read and enjoyed most of Sharon Bolton’s previous novels so was looking forward to reading The Mortician. The Mortician is Ella Foxton who is approached by local gangster Jonny Massey to organise the funeral of his brother Jimmy. This is the start of a twisty, multi layered and at times dark plot that is superbly plotted and gripping. I loved the two time lines and was constantly trying to work out all the different connections between the characters and between past and present. The first three quarters of the book are excellent and the opening scenes are very spooky but I did find that there were too many extra plot twists in the final section that became a little ridiculous. Overall however, this was a clever and compelling read that I enjoyed and would recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

[Helen]

Running her own funeral business is where Ella has found her safe place. Putting the tragedy of her parents deaths at the hands of an unknown intruder behind and building a successful business.
Local gang leader Massey interrupts her quiet with the demand to deal with arrangements for his brother's funeral.
Caught between two gangs and worrying for her own safety and that of her business Ella connects with her old family friend. Now retired from the force but still wanting resolution for the double murder of Ella's parents.
Full of twists and double story line it will keep you engaged.
Enjoy I did

[Celia]

Yet another success I'm sure for Sharon Bolton.

A complicated plot which took a while before the penny dropped as to what was happening, very clever!

Enjoyable read, looking forward to the next one.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.

[Joanna]

I've enjoyed most of Boltons books that I've read as they're easy to get in to and fast paced. This one was no different. I didn't find the characters to be very engaging though and there was a bit too much going on at the end and not in a good way. Still liked it but definitely not my favourite of hers. Interesting to learn it's loosely based on a true story.