Discover the twisted and utterly mesmerizing Sunday Times bestseller that everyone is talking about . . .**Shortlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year**‘Too few thriller writers produce books that genuinely thrill, but Tania Carver is one of them. These are seriously scary books.’ MARK BILLINGHAM‘Keep the lights on for this one . . . an utterly terrifying yet believable thriller.’ The MirrorThis killer wants a baby. And they’ll do anything to get one.DI Phil Brennan of Colchester Major Crime has seen his share of horrors. But this crime scene will haunt him forever. Heavily pregnant Claire Fielding lies dead on her bed, brutally butchered in her own flat. Her stomach gapes open.Her baby is nowhere to be found.The killer took the baby because they wanted him alive.

For now . . .It’s up to Detective Brennan to hunt for the killer, and save an innocent new life before it’s too late — but he can’t do it alone.Brennan needs the help of Marina Esposito. She’s the most brilliant profiler he knows, and the only one who can get under the skin of this twisted killer. Even if she is his ex-lover . . .But little does Brennan suspect Marina is now pregnant with another man’s child — and in the killer’s sights.Can they put aside their own feelings long enough to crack this impossible case? Before it cracks them . . .Please note, this book was previously published as The Surrogate.Perfect for fans of M.W. Craven, Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza, Patricia Gibney and Alex Smith, this pulse-pounding thriller slices straight to the bone. Are you brave enough to turn the first page?MORE PRAISE FOR TANIA CARVER:‘Dark, sexy . . . relentlessly suspenseful.’ RICHARD MONTANARI‘If Tania Carver doesn’t creep you out, you should seek professional help.’ VAL McDERMID‘Powerful, gory and unflinching . . . a near-perfect crime novel which will keep you guessing into the wee small hours.’ Bella‘Creepy . . . with a plotline that snares from the off, Carver’s debut sets the crime thriller bar high.’ Irish Examiner‘Full of fear and edginess, this author’s carved out a niche for a particularly creepy sort of thriller.’ Star magazine⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book holds you for the start . . . plenty of twists and turns and . . .

I had a blast reading it. ENJOY!’ Luna, Goodreads⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘OMG! I was hooked from the start.’ Wandarer, Goodreads⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An amazing, gruesome, sickening and mind-blowing thriller!’ Faouzia, Goodreads⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘So good it’s traumatising!!!’ Moshi, Goodreads⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Fantastic . . . I literally didn’t see the final revelation coming.’ Amanda, GoodreadsMeet Brennan and Esposito, partners in sleuthing and more.Relentlessly dedicated Detective Phil Brennan is a rising star of Colchester Major Crime, and the envy of his workmates. But they don’t know the real Phil, battling panic attacks at crime scenes, unable to put his childhood trauma behind him. Marina Esposito, Phil’s talented profiler ex, is the only one who sees beneath Phil’s calm, collected façade.

But Phil’s latest gruesome case can’t fail to open up old wounds. Can he face up to his demons as well as the twisted killer . . . ?Marina Esposito is brilliant, intuitive and no stranger to darkness. A lecturer turned profiler, her insights are razor-sharp, but they almost cost her everything. After a near-death experience in the line of duty, Marina stepped away from policework. Now pregnant and more vulnerable than ever, she knows she should say ‘no’ to this latest case. Yet she can’t seem to close the door on her messy history with DI Phil Brennan.