The Replacement

Melanie Golding took the MA in Creative Writing program at Bath Spa University, and has recently completed work on a PhD which examines the use of folklore in contemporary thrillers. In recent years she has won and been shortlisted in several local and national short story competitions, which have been chosen to be recorded as podcasts by the Leicester-based festival Story City, and to be performed at both the regular Stroud Short Stories event and their special 'best of' event at Cheltenham Literature Festival.

Melanie has had a varied working life, including working as a teacher in prisons, young offender's units and residential schools for children with special educational needs. Her first novel, Little Darlings, became an ebook bestseller and has been optioned for screen by Free Range Films, the team behind the adaptation of My Cousin Rachel.

'A modern spin on a folk tale where the improbable can happen ... the twists are lovely; dark and deep' The Times

'Golding folds together a folklore-inspired plot with the modern twists and tension of a police procedural novel to create a bitingly unnerving story' Adele Parks, Platinum

'Powerful imagery and captivating characters, this a grabbing book' Magic Radio Book Club

'The most original book you'll read this year' Crime Monthly

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When a small child is found wandering alone, the local shopkeepers call the authorities immediately. Twenty minutes later, the girl's mother turns up, panicked and distraught. It doesn't take long to clear things up, and mother and daughter are soon reunited and sent on their way.

Miles away, the body of a man is discovered, floating in a bathtub, but the most surprising discovery of all is that he isn't dead. Despite his injuries, he is very much alive.

Two seemingly unrelated events. But as DS Harper begins to investigate, disturbing connections between the two incidents start to surface, and suddenly it's not clear where the danger truly lies. Harper must find out, and quickly. Because someone, or something, is closing in and she needs to uncover the truth before it's too late...

Weaving together the trademark folklore inspiration that readers loved in Little Darlings, with the procedural narrative force of a brilliant mystery, this is the excellent and unnerving new novel from Melanie Golding.

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Readers are captivated by The Replacement!:

I don't think I breathed properly throughout this brilliantly crafted thriller . . . This is by far one of the best psychological thrillers I've read and I was totally engrossed throughout' Reader review, _____

'A book with so many twists and unexpected outcomes. So unusual but totally gripping. I wanted the book to last forever' Reader review, _____

'This book is brilliant . . . I love psychological thrillers and stories with myths and folklore [and Melanie] blends the two together [to] create the perfect book in my eyes' Reader review, _____

'A deliciously dark and creepy tale which will have you addicted' Reader review, _____

from the bestselling author of Little Darlings comes a brand new suspenseful thriller full of twist and turns for 2023

'A modern spin on a folk tale where the improbable can happen ... the twists are lovely; dark and deep' The Times

'Golding folds together a folklore-inspired plot with the modern twists and tension of a police procedural novel to create a bitingly unnerving story' Adele Parks, Platinum