I’m delighted to announce that Barbara Copperthwaite has revealed her new book will be published on February 23rd by Bookouture.

If you’ve not read any of Barbara’s books she writes psychological thrillers that will ‘give you shivers’. The Girl in the Missing Poster looks set to do exactly the same.

I’ve been lucky enough to meet Barbara on a number of occasions and she happily agreed to take part in my Five on Friday feature. She always seems way too nice to be capable of such dark and twisty thrillers!!

What’s it About?

MISSING – Have you seen this girl? Nineteen-year-old Leila Hawkins was last seen on 24 June, 1994, when she left her parents’ anniversary party early and ran into the stormy night wearing her twin sister Stella’s long red coat. She was never seen again.

I wrap my arms around the tree trunk, pressing my cheek against it until the bark digs in and the missing poster is finally secured. I try not to look at the photograph on it. At the features so similar to mine. Perhaps this will be the year someone comes forward.

Were crucial mistakes made by detectives from the very beginning?

Could the pressure of living two lives have led my sister to run away – or even end it?

Or did someone in her tight circle of friends and family have reason to want her gone?

Someone out there must know something.

But the last thing I ever expect is a direct response from the person who took Leila. Wracked with guilt and completely alone in the world without the other half of me, I have no choice but to agree to his strange request: private, intimate details of my life in return for answers.

As the final moments of my sister’s life play out before me, I feel closer to her than I ever dreamed I’d be again. So close, it could almost be happening to me. But when I finally realise who is behind this terrifying tragedy, will I make it out alive?

From the bestselling author of The Perfect Friend, this absolutely gripping psychological thriller will keep you up all night and leave you sleeping with the light on. If you loved Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and The Wife Between Us this book is for you!

It sounds good to me!

You can pre-order now through the following links.

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Here’s what others have said about Barbara’s books

‘ALL THE STARS!… If it’s twists you are looking for then READ THIS BOOK!… 5 stars across the board… *INSERT STANDING OVATION HERE*’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘WOW!! This book!!! Holy cow!!! So many lies… who can be trusted? NO ONE!!… I had to keep reading. So many twists and turns throughout the whole book… a psychological thriller unlike any other!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘This book is so good. I literally couldn’t put it down… it kept me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t want the book to end but I needed to know what had happened… This is one of my fav books… WOW!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘WOW – I am speechless… I am absolutely blown away by this book… really, really got under my skin… I feel slightly dizzy now and need a lie-down with a soft pillow and lots of chocolate.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘OMFG this is her best book yet!!… just blew everything else out of the water. Seriously. This book had me on edge… my poor nerves were shattered. Buy it, read it, love it! This book gets ALL the stars from me!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘A darkly addictive and creepy page turner that had me on the edge of my seat… breathtakingly shocking… the final pages were absolutely brilliant. Left me with goosebumps!’ My Chestnut Reading Tree , 5 stars

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About the Author

Barbara is the Amazon, Kobo and USA Today bestselling author of psychological thrillers INVISIBLE, FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD, THE DARKEST LIES, HER LAST SECRET and THE PERFECT FRIEND.

Her writing career started in journalism, writing for national newspapers and magazines. During a career spanning over twenty years Barbara interviewed the real victims of crime – and also those who have carried those crimes out. She is fascinated by creating realistic, complex characters, and taking them apart before the readers’ eyes in order to discover just how much it takes to push a person over a line.

Her first book, Invisible, was ‘totally gripping, and scarily believable’ according to Bella magazine. Its success was followed by Flowers For The Dead, which was the Sunday Mirror’s Choice Read, beating Lee Child’s latest offering. ‘Will have you looking over your shoulder and under your bed… Original, gripping, with a deep psychological impact,’ their review read. 

The Darkest Lies came next, published by Bookouture, and became a USA Today bestseller. The follow-up, Her Last Secret, hit the Number 1 spot on Kobo. The Perfect Friend is a No 1 Kobo and Amazon best seller.  

When not writing feverishly at her home in Birmingham, Barbara is often found walking her two dogs, Scamp and Buddy, or hiding behind a camera to take wildlife photographs.