The Search Party

By: Hannah Richell

Narrated by: Beth Eyre, Jamie Parker

Shortlisted for the 2024 Ned Kelly Awards, Best International Crime Fiction

You are invited to:
The Search Party

Join six old friends for one wild weekend at Cornwall’s newest glamping spot.

The guests:
The anxious hosts with everything at stake.
The boho hippies concealing a private darkness.
The TV celebrity with his hot new wife and an even hotter temper.
The exhausted new parents with a secret to hide.
The one that won’t make it home alive . . .

The tents are up. The bonfire is lit. Get ready for one hell of a party.

‘The Search Party pitches you forward from the first page, sending you rushing headlong towards its thrilling conclusion.’
Hayley Scrivenor, bestselling author of Dirt Town

‘I couldn’t put it down.’
Mark Brandi, bestselling author of Wimmera

‘... thoroughly gripping from start to finish.’
Anna Downes, bestselling author of The Safe Place

Critic reviews

‘Every page of this gripping and atmospheric crime novel crackles with tension ... I devoured every word of this brilliant, emotionally-charged story. A rock solid five star read!’ (Rae Cairns, author of Dying To Know)

‘You expect drama when old friends get together, but this is next level! The Search Party layers sharp observations of friendship and family dynamics over ever-increasing tension and danger. Richell adeptly delivers multiple points of view and timelines, propelling the reader through the pages, screaming the questions: who died? And who did it?'

(Michelle Prak, author of The Rush)

‘Hannah Richell was born to write thrillers. Twisty and adrenaline fuelled, I devoured this whip-smart novel set against a backdrop of remote Cornish cliffs. All the ingredients I love in a thriller – jealousy, revenge, lust and anger – simmer ominously beneath the surface before coming explosively to the fore. I was in equal parts agonised and satisfied when I turned the final page. Trust me, you will not be able to put this book down!’ (Ali Lowe, author of The Running Club)

‘The Search Party pitches you forward from the first page, sending you rushing headlong towards its thrilling conclusion. I loved this novel for its multifaceted, multi-voiced take on a single weekend, and a satisfying and emotionally honest portrayal of what we see in others, and ourselves. Hannah Richell’s first foray into the thriller genre is simply not to be missed!’ (Hayley Scrivenor, bestselling author of Dirt Town)

‘The Search Party is a dexterous blend of best and worst case scenarios, a chillingly relatable journey into the unexpected. With her cast of expertly crafted characters, evocative setting and taut prose, Richell has written a standout page-turner, thoroughly gripping from start to finish. Fans of Lucy Foley and Sarah Pearse will not want to miss this.’ (Anna Downes, bestselling author of The Safe Place)

‘If you read just one thriller this year, make it The Search Party. I couldn’t put it down.’ (Mark Brandi, bestselling author of Wimmera)

‘A glamping weekend for old friends on the rugged Cornish coast devolves into mayhem and murder in this deliciously sinuous thriller brimming with atmosphere. Hannah Richell is masterful, deploying white-knuckle pacing, pitch-perfect prose, and characters whose emotional depth is fully mined, making the twists feel maximally earned and resonant. Gripping, clever, and as enjoyable to curl up with as a Christie – I inhaled it in a day!’ (Jaclyn Goldis, author of The Chateau)

'It’s darkly atmospheric and so clever, with complex characters and a building sense of dread that makes this a deliciously enticing, one-sitting read.' (Cressida McLaughlin)