We’re delighted that Melanie Golding’s folkloric suspense novel The Replacement has been published in hardback in the UK by HarperCollins / HQ.

Melanie’s first novel Little Darlings (HarperCollins / HQ) was optioned for screen by Free Range Films, the team behind the adaptation of My Cousin Rachel. There has been  much excitement on social media ahead of publication, check out this trailer!

Melanie will also be giving tips and valuable advice on how to write a gripping thriller, tickets available to book now!

Early readers have had wonderful things to say:

“As dexterously shape-shifting as the legends it draws from.” – Kirkus Reviews

“A beautifully original thriller. Melanie Golding injects lonely, mournful Celtic myth into a breathless tale of murder, desperation, and the nature of motherhood. The result is seamless, and utterly compelling.” – Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and Ararat

“A dark, intense tale that sinks its teeth into the reader and won’t let go.” – Camilla Sten, author of The Lost Village

“A lush, hypnotic page-turner that illuminates the beauty of Selkie mythology and the horror of real monsters. Dark, twisty, and absolutely chilling.” – Rachel Harrison, author of The Return

“Wonderfully original, full of heart and often suspenseful and surprising, [The Hidden] breathes new life into the thriller genre with its mashup of crime and myth. Golding is a terrific talent who sweeps you off your feet and carries you away on her words. I can’t wait to read more from her. I loved this.” – C. J. Skuse, author of the Sweetpea mystery series

“The Hidden is a dark and captivating blend of folktale and thriller. Beautifully written with compelling characters, it grabs you from the very first page. Melanie Golding has crafted a  riveting story difficult to put down and impossible to forget.” – Damien Angelica Walters, author of The Dead Girls Club

“A modern mythological thriller for those who miss Grimm Brothers fairy tales.” – Rea Frey, author of Secrets of Our House

Melanie Golding is a graduate of the MA in creative writing program at Bath Spa University, with distinction. She has been employed in many occupations including farm hand, factory worker, childminder and music teacher. In recent years she has won and been shortlisted in several local and national short story competitions. Take a deep dive into this spine-tingling twist on Celtic mythology…

It’s December in a small seaside town, and Ruby Harper spends her nights looking into her neighbour’s apartment. Unable to sleep due to insomnia and the heartache of a family she has run away from, she fantasizes that the mystery man she watches could be the answer to her loneliness. But one night Ruby sees something unexpected: the man is not alone; a woman and a child are sharing the apartment–and they never go outside. Why are they kept hidden?

Then the man is found half-drowned in the bathtub, a pile of women’s clothes is left on the beach, and a little girl is discovered, abandoned. Detective Sergeant Joanna Harper is assigned to the case, which grows more complicated by the minute. Soon, a shocking revelation and a desperate bid for freedom put Ruby at the centre of a crime–and hot on her trail is DS Harper, who knows her better than anyone and is ready to anticipate her every move.

Congratulations Melanie! You can order your copy here.