The Sacrificial Man

The Cate Austin Casefiles, Book 2

By: Ruth Dugdall

Narrated by: Jane Fox, Isabella Inchbald

‘Reading this book was like a drug. I could not put it down’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Chilling, gripping and stomach-lurchingly twisted, The Sacrificial Man is an outstanding thriller that I will be thinking about for a long time to come’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A deadly choice in the name of love.

Probation officer Cate Austin faces the highest‑profile case of her career: Alice Mariani, a celebrated university lecturer, has been charged with assisting in the death of her lover. But at what point does a private pact become a public crime?

Every interview with Alice peels back another layer of secrecy. As media and campaigners swarm the courtroom, Cate is forced into a legal blind spot — and a brutal dilemma.

Will a lover's last request become a deadly price to pay?

Don't miss this gripping thriller, perfect for fans of Joy Ellis from award-winning, Kindle #1 bestselling author Ruth Dugdall, as discussed on Radio 4’s ‘Woman’s Hour’.

Readers love The Sacrificial Man:

'Gripping, original, authentic' Erin Kelly

'Gripping, original, authentic' Erin Kelly

‘Ruth Dugdall has the ability to get under a character’s skin so thoroughly that they seem real, making them all the more scary’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Another dark and disturbing read in a brilliant series'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I would strongly recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers with bizarre and unsuspecting twists'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'There has always been something exceptional about the words written by Ruth Dugdall'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

©2026 Ruth Dugdall (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

Praise for Ruth Dugdall:

'Twisty, profound and completely convincing, it grips the reader by the heart. Unputdownable' Erin Kelly

‘Ruth Dugdall’s novels are intelligent and gripping, with a sophisticated psychological sensibility. She is a huge talent’ Sophie Hannah

‘Authentic … diverting debut’ Daily Mail

'A chilling tale of betrayal and obsession…keeps its secrets well' Publishers Weekly

'Well plotted…The author understands how to build suspense and create atmosphere' Kirkus

'The menace is skillfully intensified by Dugdall… a twisting labyrinth of child-trafficking and police cover ups' The Times

‘Timely and beautifully-written… Highly recommended’ Mark Edwards

‘An absolute tour de force that left me thinking for days’ Alex Marwood

‘A chilling psychological thriller with a shocking twist. I read it one day and couldn’t put it down’ Louise Millar

'Dugdall’s background as a probation officer shines as she gets inside the heads of a range of characters, some quirky, some terrifying, all fascinating. In this chilling psychological thriller, she doesn’t so much prod the seedy underbelly of Europe as rips it wide open' Mike Craven

'An intelligent mystery, beautifully written, with an intriguing storyline. This one will keep you up to the wee small hours' Jane Isaac

'Utterly chilling' Karen Maitland

'Ruth Dugdall has created a child killer who is no evil stereotype. She skillfully reveals his thoughts and his motives, pulling the reader into a story that spirals towards a shocking conclusion. One to make you think' Julie Corbin

'Intelligent, thought-provoking and tense, Humber Boy B deals with an emotive subject sensitively whilst continually piling on the suspense. Once you start reading you won’t be able to stop until you reach the heart-stopping end' C.L Taylor

'A thought-provoking and tension-filled novel – with evocative characters and an ending that I didn’t expect' Mel Sherratt