Mary Watson

A chilling, thrilling collection of 13 haunting tales. Perfect for every YA reader! From supernatural thrillers to contemporary horror, creepy ancient legends to murders gone wrong - this insatiable anthology is impossible to put down, and even more difficult to forget. From some of the most celebrated authors writing in this space, this must-have collection will keep you awake at night and inhabit your darkest dreams. Stories from bestselling authors Melinda Salisbury, Cynthia Murphy, Kathryn Foxfield and Louie Stowell (and many more). Co-curated by Amy McCaw and Mia Kuzniar, this anthology has a story for every reader out there. Perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Wednesday, and all things scary! Featuring stories from: Amy McCaw, Maria Kuzniar, Kat Dunn, Kat Ellis, Rachel Faturoti, Kathryn Foxfield, Dawn Kurtagich, Amy McCulloch, Cynthia Murphy, Melinda Salisbury, Louie Stowell, Rosie Talbot, Mary Watson.

This is what happens when true crime hits close to home.Kevin's mother was emotionally abusive and resented him, though she did her best to protect him and his brother from their father -a violent man who inherited his own father's evil, sadistic, possibly even pedophiliac traits. In the summer of 1980 Kevin found himself in the "care" of his paternal grandfather, on the same day the man abducted an 11-year-old girl with the sole intention of raping her. Kevin tried to stop him, and nearly died for getting in the way. And she wasn't the only little girl.I'm Supposed to Make a Difference describes how Kevin fought a grueling, decades-long battle against long-buried memories to overcome suicidal feelings, depression, and self-loathing to develop five principles for moving forward and normalizing trauma: be steadfast; be goal-oriented; find good people; accept help; and focus your anger.Today, Kevin's largely conquered his demons-and shares the strategies he used to heal and transform.I'm Supposed to Make a Difference is a riveting, emotional read for fans of true crime docuseries and those who appreciate the transformative power of the human experience.

You say he harassed you.They say you murdered him…Maia has always kept her eyes firmly on the prize of her career, never allowing herself to be distracted by love. Then she meets Jacob. He is intelligent, charming, attractive. He also happens to be her boss.For a while, they enjoy a whirlwind romance. Then things between them turn sour and she tries to end it, but he won’t leave her alone. She lodges a formal grievance, but the harassment only gets worse. Calls in the middle of the night; her precious work sabotaged. She decides to have it out for him once and for all.The very next morning, he is found dead – and Maia is top of the list of suspects. Unless she can unravel the mystery of his murder, she’ll go to prison for the rest of her life.But maybe, with his killer now on her trail, that’s where she’d be safest…

It's not dust she's looking for.It's dirt.Esmie is meant to be invisible. Just a cleaner with a foreign accent that no one quite has time to place, and a uniform of leggings and a duster that allows her to explore the homes of the wealthy Woodlands gated community, unnoticed.Which is exactly what she wants. Because Esmie isn’t really a cleaner.One of the residents of Woodlands has ruined her life. And when she finds out who, she’s going to make them pay . . .

Jasmin has always known that monsters are real. And they wear ordinary faces.When she was a child, she witnessed her famous, adored grandfather attempt to kill her grandmother. Now Jasmin is eighteen, watchful and curious. She hangs out at the local college, sneaking into the lectures of charismatic professor Theo Merrick and spying on an intoxicatingly cool group of older students. She can only dream of being part of their world. Then, when a college student dies in mysterious circumstances, Jasmin seizes her chance to join the group as they try to solve the mystery - while unwittingly unraveling her own dark past. A slow burn dark academia thriller, Strange Nature is a compulsive read that will haunt you long after the final page.

This beautifully sinister, propulsive page-turner that explores themes of identity and privilege is perfect for fans of Harriet Tyce and Lisa Jewell.'A heart-thumping thriller packed with exciting twists' - Daily Mail'The Cleaner is a masterclass in tension.' - JENNIE GODFREY, Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things'Beautiful, dark, visceral, truly spellbinding.' - ANDREA MARA, Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author‘Taut, twisty and beautifully atmospheric.' - KIA ABDULLAH, author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month Those People Next DoorIt's not dust she's looking for.It's dirt.Esmie is supposed to be invisible. Just a cleaner with a foreign accent that no one quite has time to place. Her uniform of leggings and a duster allows her to explore the homes of the wealthy, unseen; an outsider creeping around the edges of privilege.But as she sweeps through the exclusive Woodlands gated neighbourhood, cleaning is the last thing on her mind. Treading silently over the polished wooden floorboards and cloud-soft carpets, Esmie gathers up the mess of broken marriages, quiet deceptions and careless failures. She tucks away their fragments, keeping them safe. For now.Because one of the residents took from her the person she loves most. She’s not here to clean; she’s here for revenge – and she’ll get it using the weapons her employers unwittingly handed her along with the keys to their homes: their own secrets…*** Readers love The Cleaner! ***'Domestic noir at its finest.' - i Paper'In The Cleaner, Mary Watson creates an immersive, twisty, character-driven web of family secrets.' - FIONA MCPHILLIPS, author of When We Were Silent'Dripping in atmosphere, this tale of revenge is edgy and immersive.’ - LOUISE MUMFORD, author of The Hotel'I could not put this one down, it had me consumed... If you love domestic thrillers then this one needs to be on your radar in 2025!!' *****'An outstanding adult novel debut... dark and atmospheric' *****'Excellent' *****'This is a powerful and intriguing novel, which really does keep the reader guessing until the very end.' *****'This book was brilliant, I could not put it down and read it in one sitting.' *****'An incredibly gripping thriller that had me hooked from the start.' *****'Cleverly ratchets up the tension...The perfect mix for a highly readable physiological thriller.' *****

'The Cleaner is a masterclass in tension.' - JENNIE GODFREY, Sunday Times bestselling author of The List of Suspicious Things 'Beautiful, dark, visceral, truly spellbinding.' - ANDREA MARA, Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author 'Taut, twisty and beautifully atmospheric.' - KIA ABDULLAH, author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month Those People Next Door It's not dust she's looking for. It's dirt. Esmie is supposed to be invisible. Just a cleaner with a foreign accent that no one quite has time to place. Her uniform of leggings and a duster allows her to explore the homes of the wealthy, unseen; an outsider creeping around the edges of privilege. But as she sweeps through the exclusive Woodlands gated neighbourhood, cleaning is the last thing on her mind. Treading silently over the polished wooden floorboards and cloud-soft carpets, Esmie gathers up the mess of broken marriages, quiet deceptions and careless failures. She tucks away their fragments, keeping them safe. For now. Because one of the residents took from her the person she loves most. She's not here to clean; she's here for revenge - and she'll get it using the weapons her employers unwittingly handed her along with the keys to their homes: their own secrets... This beautifully sinister, propulsive page-turner that explores themes of identity and privilege is perfect for fans of Harriet Tyce and Lisa Jewell. *** Readers love The Cleaner! *** 'In The Cleaner, Mary Watson creates an immersive, twisty, character-driven web of family secrets.' - FIONA MCPHILLIPS, author of When We Were Silent 'Dripping in atmosphere, this tale of revenge is edgy and immersive.' - LOUISE MUMFORD, author of The Hotel 'I could not put this one down, it had me consumed... If you love domestic thrillers then this one needs to be on your radar in 2025!!' ***** 'An outstanding adult novel debut... dark and atmospheric' ***** 'Excellent' ***** 'This is a powerful and intriguing novel, which really does keep the reader guessing until the very end.' ***** 'This book was brilliant, I could not put it down and read it in one sitting.' *****

_______________'A fiercely compelling, ferocious story' – Kiran Millwood Hargrave'Furious, beautiful, and impossible to put down' - Katherine Webber_______________An epic South African fantasy from award-winning author Mary Watson, for fans of Children of Blood and Bone and The Gilded Ones.Seventeen-year-old Savannah is cursed. It's a sinister family heirloom; passed down through the bloodline for hundreds of years, with one woman in every generation destined to die young. The family call them Hella’s girls, named for their ancestor Hella; the enslaved woman with whom it all began. Hella’s girls are always angry, especially in the months before they die. The anger is bursting from Savannah – at the men who cat-call her in the street, at her mother’s disingenuous fiancé, even at her own loving family. Each fit of rage is bringing her closer to the edge and now Savannah has to act to save herself. Or die trying. Because the key to survival lies in the underbelly of Cape Town, where the sinister veilwitches are waiting for just such a girl. Blood to Poison is a furious and mesmerising story about discovering magic, historical rage and love in all its guises.

An eerie, magical thriller from the author of The Wren Hunt, perfect for fans of Frances Hardinge and Emily Bain Murphy’s The DisappearancesZara’s family moved to Kilshamble for a new beginning. But everything changed the night her sister was found dead on the village green.Two months later, Laila’s death is a riddle that nobody wants solved. Where were her injuries? Why was she so obsessed with local folklore? And what does all this have to do with David, the boy who lives at the big house? As Zara delves deeper into her sister’s secret life, she becomes entangled in an ancient magical feud. All too unwittingly she is treading the same dangerous path that led Laila to the village green …

NOMINATED FOR THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL 2019SHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS TEEN/YOUNG ADULT BOOK OF THE YEAR 2018'Beautiful, eerie, dark and dreamy' MELINDA SALISBURY'Watson’s writing has the sort of poise rarely found in a debut' KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE'Thrilling and otherworldly' SUNDAY TIMES Every winter, Wren Silke is chased through the forest in a warped version of a childhood game. The boys who haunt her are judges, powerful and frightening pursuers, who know nothing of her true identity. If they knew she was an augur, their sworn enemy, the game would turn deadly. But Wren is on the hunt, too. Sent undercover as an intern to the Harkness Foundation – enemy headquarters – her family's survival rests on finding a secret meant to stay hidden. As the enmity between two ancient magics reaches breaking point, Wren is torn between old loyalties and new lies. And trapped in the most dangerous game of her life. Part thriller, part love story, this captivating debut novel will leave readers spellbound.