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* WINNER OF THE MCILVANNEY PRIZE FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR *

‘A tour de force with superb dramatic twists’ – DAILY MAIL
‘If you’re a fan of Thomas Harris you must read this’ – PRIMA
‘The best book I’ve read all year’ – SARAH PINBOROUGH

‘This is a work of fiction. This is not a confession.’

Lucas Cole is a bestselling writer. A quiet and unassuming man, he’s a beloved celebrity in his small town. Lucas Cole is also a serial killer.

Nathan Cole has always known the truth about his father. But it isn’t until Lucas is found dead that Nathan discovers The Midnight King, his father’s fictionalised account of his hideous crimes, hidden in a box of trinkets taken from his victims. Trinkets that include a ribbon belonging to a missing girl who disappeared only days before Lucas’s death.

Now, Nathan must deal with the consequences of keeping his father’s secret. But The Midnight King holds Nathan’s secrets as well as Lucas’s, and he is not the only one searching for the truth…

Full of unexpected twists and heartrending turns, The Midnight King is a gripping thriller perfect for fans of Chris Whitaker, S.A. Cosby and Ian Rankin.

Publisher Review

Reminiscent of Mo Hayder at her darkest * Observer * This dark, twisted thriller will keep you gripped until a finale that will leave you reeling. Breathtakingly good * Daily Express * Reads like true crime, but it is, in fact, very dark fiction… A tour de force with two superb dramatic twists * Daily Mail * A clever and powerfully plotted, terror-inducing, propulsive read with a haunting presence that lingers long after the last page * Sunday Post * If you’re a fan of Thomas Harris you must read this… A mind-blowing read * Prima * Complex and bloody * iPaper * It’s no surprise to discover that Ashkanani was turned on to crime fiction by Robert Harris’s Red Dragon: there’s a similar sense here of an author compelled to probe parts of the psyche others would prefer to leave alone… With a novel as confident, chilling and audacious as this, it won’t go unnoticed * Herald * With a daring premise and plenty of twists and turns, this one might just keep you all up night * Crime Monthly * Fast-moving and compelling, and walks that tightrope between twisted and twisty with skilful aplomb * Crack * The best book I’ve read all year. Dark, twisty, gripping and full of pathos… A story delivered in prose as smooth as honey. If you’re a fan of John Connolly you’re going to love this — Sarah Pinborough, author of BEHIND HER EYES Lean, taut, gripping and bloody — Chris Brookmyre, author of BLACK WIDOW The Midnight King is everything you want in a thriller. Dark, unpredictable, compelling, twisted and brilliant — Nadine Matheson, author of THE JIGSAW MAN A chilling story that delivers a cascade of demon twists by steely stealth. Leave your expectations aside and immerse yourself in The Midnight King… once you do, I guarantee this book will not let you go without a fight. A sure-fire shocker — Janice Hallett, author of THE APPEAL Written in darkly electric prose, The Midnight King is a multi-layered serial killer novel that whips the reader back and forth like a bandsaw. A brutal and demanding read — Vaseem Khan, author THE UNEXPECTED INHERITANCE OF INSPECTOR CHOPRA A twisty and twisted thriller that will worm its way into your mind — Jo Callaghan, author of IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE One of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. Incredibly dark (an understatement), atmospheric, and utterly gripping — Will Dean, author of THE LAST PASSENGER An absolutely brilliant read and dark as hell. A deadly game of cat and mouse but not the one you might expect. Sinister, sly, and beautifully tense — L.V. Matthews, author of THE TWINS Best serial killer thriller I’ve read in ages. Incredibly dark and violent and not for the faint of heart — Mark Edwards, author of HERE TO STAY An insane ride through dark minds, a shocking serial killer thriller, laced with tension and expertly woven by a skilled storyteller — Mari Hannah, author of WITHOUT A TRACE This has it all – twists, turns and layers of darkness that deepen with every page. It’s beautiful and bleak at the same time, with such a fantastic tale at the heart of it all. Evocative of Thomas Harris. Stunning — Chris Frost, author of THE KILLER’S CHRISTMAS LIST Stunningly dark and utterly brutal, The Midnight King immerses the reader in the world of a serial killer and the family depending on him. As truth and fiction blur, the ripples of violence spread far beyond the killer’s victims, with devastating consequences. A brilliant and unsettling read — Heather Critchlow, author of UNSOLVED Breathlessly compelling, blunt and brutal, The Midnight King confirms Ashkanani as a bright star in the world of serial killer thrillers — Sam Holland, author of THE PUPPET MASTER The best book I’ve read about a serial killer since Red Dragon… I will be thinking about it for a long time — Gareth Brown, author of THE BOOK OF DOORS A masterful book – intricate, brooding and artful, utterly transporting. A diabolical recipe of pitch-black plot, viciously incisive character and absolute heartbreak. I loved it — Kate Simants, author of FREEZE A masterpiece with shades of Stephen King and Thomas Harris — Tina Baker, author of CALL ME MUMMY Delivered in sharp, hard-boiled prose this was super twisty, original and genuinely compelling — N.J. Mackay, author of THE SWEETHEART KILLER I just loved it. Dark, haunting, and with whiplash twists. A serial killer unlike any other. This is stand-out excellent — Rachel Wolf, author of FIVE NIGHTS Bold and unsettling, The Midnight King offers a chilling dive into the mind of a serial killer and the devastating toll on his family. Dark, gripping, and unforgettable — Sophie Flynn, author of KEEP THEM CLOSE The Midnight King tore through my heart at a rate of knots, staggering my very soul. I loved it — Matt Wesolowski, author of SIX STORIES Absolutely incredible. Had me by the throat from the first page — Callum McSorley, author of SQUEAKY CLEAN A turn-it-up-to-11 thriller, The Midnight King glows with a halo of malevolence. More twists than a kudu horn and twice as sharp, it teems with ideas about family, transgenerational violence, and how there’s nothing we bear lousier witness to than ourselves — Dominic Nolan, author of VINE STREET A stylishly written, brilliantly structured novel that makes your own family seem almost normal. A dark and gripping piece of entertainment — Lilja Sigurdardottir, author of COLD AS HELL A jaw droppingly good read that worms its way under your skin from the get-go and sinks its claws in till the very last page — Robert Rutherford, author of SEVEN DAYS I defy anyone to not read this in one sitting. Tariq Ashkanani is the master of dark fiction — Claire Wilson, author of FIVE BY FIVE A dark, devastating novel full of exquisite, almost painful suspense. The Midnight King will grip you from the first page and never let go. A fantastic achievement — Beth Lewis, author of THE WOLF ROAD Unflinching and unforgettable, The Midnight King is a beautifully-written slice of pitch-black noir that will stay with you long after the final page — Lisa Gray, author of THIN AIR A disturbing story, skilfully woven. On the harder edge of hard-boiled, it will appeal to those who love their crime thrillers served up extra cold — Nilesha Chauvet, author of THE REVENGE OF RITA MARSH Dark, atmospheric, twisty and beautifully written, it’s serial killer literature at its best. I was left with a haunting sense of unease — Guy Morpuss, author of A TRIAL IN THREE ACTS A tense, layered thriller, packed with menace and one hell of a twist. Smart and dark and pretty darn good — Dan Malakin, author of THE BOX A deliciously dark slice of serial killer pie. Brings something genuinely fresh to the genre, and reads like peak Stephen King. I raced through it — Adam Simcox, author of THE DYING SQUAD Dark and twisted. I couldn’t tear my eyes away. An in-one-sitting read that’ll blow your mind — Louise Mullins, author of ONE NIGHT ONLY Dark, tense and vivid. The Midnight King is one of my books of the year — Simon Van Der Velde, author of THE SILENT BROTHER