Worse Than Murder

DCI Matilda Darke, Book 13

As DCI Matilda Darke unravels a chilling cold case, she discovers some truths are deadly – and someone will stop at nothing to keep the past buried…

‘Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths

RUNNING FROM HER PAST

Leaving behind Sheffield, her friends and her job, a grieving DCI Matilda Darke finds solace in the wild, untamed beauty of the Lake District. But she can’t outrun her reputation.

A COLD CASE

PC Alison Pemberton is living in the shadow of her twin sisters, who were abducted thirty years ago. As the only witness, Alison has spent her life trying to remember the details of that fateful summer day and discover the truth about what happened to her sisters and why, a few months later, her father also disappeared.

A TRUTH THAT SHOULD HAVE STAYED BURIED

Matilda finds herself agreeing to try and unearth the truth about the Pemberton twins. With nothing left to lose, Matilda throws herself into the cold case, but someone doesn’t want her digging up the past and will do anything to keep the truth hidden…

Praise for Michael Wood

‘A master of horror and suspense’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'One of the best books ever, in one of the best series ever! It is THAT good!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow what a book… I adore this series and every book is better and better’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book sets off at a hundred miles an hour and never lets off… this is my favourite detective series’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Exciting, tense and compelling… shocking and brilliant’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wow! Wow! Wow! The twists keep on coming to the last page’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I don’t have words! Wow just wow! This blew me away. DCI Matilda Darke and her team are my favourite detectives’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘This book had a bit of everything… some crazy twists and turns’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Another cracking, nail-biting read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

©2025 Michael Wood (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

The twists and turns

I thought it definitely kept me wanting to keep listening. Excellent reading by the one reading the book. I liked how she had voices fir each character. This whole series is excellent and I cannot wait for the next one.

Matilda! Matilda! Matilda!

This is a good read. However the main character DCI Matilda Darke
solved murders and leaves a wake of destruction behind her. Although being an “exemplary” detective, she is high strung, goes off half cocked and is hated by a whole lot of people! She’s very annoying, but everyone worships her!

Matilda returns: A chilling cold case revived?

Blimey, this 1-credit gem is a thrill ride! Matilda Darke’s back, and she's as brilliant as ever, navigating personal demons while unraveling a decades-old mystery. Stephanie Beattie's narration is perfection – precise, gripping and utterly captivating. The story is a gripping thriller, full of red herrings and surprises. I was thoroughly audicted, desperate to unravel the mystery alongside Matilda. And with Beattie's expert narration, I was hooked from the first word to the last. Twists and turns throughout, never a dull or a lull. Remember, pay close attention, lest you overlook a vital detail. “Worse Than Murder” is worth a treasured credit and highly recommended. Matilda's got nothing left to lose, and she's determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost. A top-notch British thriller that kept my attention from the very start. A 5-star must-listen. Get your audiobook fix now and dive into the world of DCI Matilda Darke. Epic, indeed!

💥🎙️✍️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✍️🎙️💥

It wasn’t what I expected but that’s the best part!

Michael Wood has done it again. Matilda Dark has endured so much and still she rises. This book was evidence of that. I loved the story. Well done.

Heart wrenching

Very morbid, sick, twisted bloody, and tear jerking, I loved it. Can’t wait for the next book.