The Murder House

DCI Matilda Darke, Book 5

By: Michael Wood

Narrated by: Stephanie Beattie

Length: 12 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

‘Gory, brutal, devastating, utterly addictive and yet so finely written. This deserves to be huge – and I think it will be. His best yet’ Louise Beech

They were the perfect family. It was the perfect crime.

The new gripping DCI Matilda Darke crime thriller about the dark secrets that lie within a perfect family. For fans of Patricia Gibney and Angela Marsons.

It’s the most disturbing crime scene DCI Matilda Darke has ever seen…

The morning after a wedding reception at a beautiful suburban home in Sheffield, the bride’s entire family are stabbed to death – in a frenzied attack more violent than anything DCI Matilda Darke could have imagined.

Forensics point to a burglar on the run across the country. But cracks are starting to appear in Matilda’s team, someone is playing games with the evidence – and the killer might be closer to home than they thought…

Praise for The Murder House:

‘Matilda Darke is Sheffield’s answer to Northumberland’s Vera and Wood’s stories are up there with the best. Fast-paced, crisp writing and a thoroughly enjoyable read’ David Young, bestselling author of Stasi Child

©2020 Michael Wood (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

‘Wood has created a fantastic lead character for his gritty South Yorkshire police procedurals. Matilda Darke is Sheffield’s answer to Northumberland’s Vera and Wood’s stories are up there with the best. Fast-paced, crisp writing and a thoroughly enjoyable read’ David Young

Praise for Michael Wood:

‘A tense, nail-biting story with a truly twisted ending’ Katerina Diamond

‘Watch out for those twists – you won't see them coming!’ Stephen Booth

‘A gritty and atmospheric thriller with more twists and turns than a hangman's knot. I loved it’ Matt Hilton

‘Solid storytelling and great unravelling of plot. Michael Wood ups the pace as the noose tightens’ Rachel Sargeant

‘Taut, twisting and sharp as a blade, The Hangman’s Hold wrong-footed me at every, devious turn’ Chris Whitaker

'Wood hit the ground running with For Reasons Unknown, first in the DCI Matilda Darke series. In the fourth instalment, The Hangman's Hold, he picks up the pace again with a twisting plot that races to a nail-biting finish’ Chris Simms

‘Bites into you like the rough twine of a hangman’s noose and refuses to let go. Tautly plotted, brilliantly realised, this is further proof that Michael Wood is only going to get better and better. The Hangman’s Hold is going to be big…’ Neil Broadfoot

‘You can count on Michael Wood to deliver a deliciously twisted and intriguing plot, leading to a surprise ending by a likeable and very real protagonist, Matilda Darke’ Yrsa Sigurdardottir

‘She is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths

‘A pitch-black concept, tightly delivered and played at exhilarating pace’ Paul Finch

‘Crackling dialogue, dark wit and an exciting ending. Recommended if you liked Happy Valley’ Mark Edwards

‘DCI Matilda Darke is going places’ James Oswald

‘A compelling, addictive read, it’s hard to put down. I really enjoyed getting to know DCI Matilda Darke. She's strong character with real depth’ Robert Bryndza

Wow! This series getting more "audictive"

DCI Matilda Darke Series continues with a complexellent and violent multiple murder case. Grabbed me from the very beginning and never let go. Twists and turns throughout and kept my attention. As always, author Michael Wood and precise narrator Stephanie Beattie, a perfect match. Anxiously awaiting their next one. Highly recommended.

Excellent plot

The Matilda Darke series is a collection of captivating crime stories. Characters develop well over the series. Vocabulary not very imaginative, but the plots keep me going.

Fantastic

Just read this book!
I cannot articulate how pleasant a surprise this was.
The title is a bit misleading. Let’s just say I didn’t have super high expectations because this was an author unknown to me and the title is a little bit elementary.
Well, I got blown AWAY by the quality of the writing, the complete character development, the pacing, and the fact that you feel a part of this story from right out of the gate.
Yes, there are a couple of gory segments but it’s not gratuitous or unnecessary.
There is a reason for every decision this author makes.
I spend every evening with a book from this genre, and it is so rare to find something special, original, and well written.
This is certainly not my last MW novel.
I will definitely be back for more.
Thank you for a great book and outstanding performance from the narrator.
Yes!

A page turner

I listened to this on my walks. It was so good, it kept me motivated to get out and walk so I could find out what happened next. This was the first one I read/listened to in the series. It was so good that I have downloaded the entire series to listen to on my walks. I will now go back and start with book 1 now.

worth it

I have enjoyed all of the Matilda series and this one didn't disappoint. Intriguing storyline with twists and turns, kept me questing who was guilty. Also her individual team members characters were explored which engaged me.