The Guilty Party

Written by Melanie McGrath

Narrated by Emma Noakes

‘MASTERFUL’ Guardian
‘IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT’ Erin Kelly
‘UTTERLY COMPELLING’Crime Monthly
‘5*’Heat
’WELL-CRAFTED AND CHILLING’ Woman
‘MCGRATH IS A DIAMOND-HARD TALENT’Financial Times

On a night out, four friends witness a stranger in trouble. They decide to do nothing to help.

Later, a body washes up on the banks of the Thames – and the group realises that ignoring the woman has left blood on their hands.

But why did each of them refuse to step in? Why did none of them want to be noticed that night? Who is really responsible?

And is it possible that the victim was not really a stranger at all? Praise for Mel McGrath:

‘This roller-coaster read will have you hooked’ Closer

‘This well-crafted, chilling tale of guilt and innocence has a compelling moral anchor’ Woman

‘Lots of twists and turns in this toxic thriller.’ Hello!

‘A dextrously written thriller and examination of guilt and innocence…[McGrath is] a diamond-hard talent’ Financial Times

‘McGrath excels in creating believably flawed characters, and her masterful control of suspense and pacing make for a psychological thriller that is both perceptive and disturbing’ Guardian

‘Unsettling, disturbing and vital. 5*’ Heat

‘Exploring guilt and innocence through several dark distinct perspectives, Cassie becomes a compelling moral anchor in this well-crafted and chilling tale’ Woman’s Own

‘Easily the best [of the subgenre]…psychologically acute and deeply satisfying’ Telegraph

‘Perceptive…McGrath is a thoughtful writer’ Daily Mail

‘Utterly compelling right from the start…a deeply unsettling look at modern sexual behaviour and bystander culture’ Crime Monthly

‘Chilling, fiendishly plotted and surprising, this stayed with me long after reading’ Woman & Home

‘Absorbing … McGrath asks: should it be a crime to witness a violent event, and say nothing?’ The Times

‘Brimming with trust issues and deceit, this will make you question whether we ever know who our friends really are’ Prima

‘A clever, nuanced exploration of toxic friendship and the ties that bind people together’ Red

‘Dark, thrilling, impossible to predict’ Erin Kelly, author of He Said She Said

‘A scorching, clever thriller’ Tammy Cohen, author of They All Fall Down

‘A dark and immersive journey into the heart of a toxic friendship group. I loved it.’ Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Release date: Mar 7, 2019
• ISBN: 9780008217112

Melanie McGrath

Mel McGrath is an Essex girl, co-founder of Killer Women, and an award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction. As MJ McGrath she writes the acclaimed Edie Kiglatuk series of Arctic mysteries. As Melanie McGrath she wrote the critically acclaimed, bestselling memoir Silvertown. As Mel McGrath she is the author of the bestselling psychological thrillers Give Me the Child, The Guilty Party and Two Wrongs.

Reviews for The Guilty Party

[pgchuis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A story about four friends who, on their way home from a music festival, witness a rape but neither intervene nor call the police. A few weeks later, on a group weekend away, Cassie (one of the four) reads that the woman's body has been found in the Thames. The narrative switches between Cassie in the present day and all four friends in the run up to the night of the festival. Gradually it becomes clear why each of them was reluctant to help the victim.I liked the way the group's secrets were revealed, but on the other hand they were four of the most appalling human beings ever to appear in fiction. They also managed to drink unimaginable amounts of alcohol, without getting started on the drugs. An entertaining read with a satisfactory ending, but one which leaves you feeling bit depressed and grubby.