The Killer in Me

by Olivia Kiernan

Published 2 April 2019
A deadly past refuses to stay buried in Olivia Kiernan’s masterful new novel

Death is no stranger to Detective Chief Superintendent Frankie Sheehan, but she isn’t the only one from her small, coastal suburb to be intimately acquainted with it. Years ago, teenager Seán Hennessey shocked the tight-knit community when he was convicted of the brutal murder of his parents and attempted slaying of his sister, though he always maintained his innocence. Now, Seán is finally being released from prison—but when his newfound freedom coincides with the discovery of two bodies, the alleged connection between the cases only serves to pull Frankie further from answers even as it draws her closer to her town’s hidden darkness. With a television documentary revisiting Seán’s sentence pushing the public’s sympathies into conflict on a weekly basis, a rabid media pressuring the police like never before, and a rising body count, Frankie will need all of her resources if she is not only to catch a killer, but put to rest what really happened all those years ago.

A dark, irresistible cocktail of secrets, murder, and family, Olivia Kiernan’s latest is an impossible-to-put-down triumph.

If Looks Could Kill

by Olivia Kiernan

Published 23 July 2020

'Cracking . . . Taut, gripping and beautifully written' Steve Cavanagh
'An ending you definitely won't see coming' JP Delaney
'Drew me in from the first chapter . . . This should be one of the books of the year' James Delargy


DCS Frankie Sheehan is experiencing a crisis of confidence - having become wary of the instincts that have led her face-to-face with a twisted killer and brought those she loves into direct jeopardy.

She is summoned to the rural Wicklow mountains, where local mother of two, Debbie Nugent, has been reported missing. A bloody crime scene is discovered at Debbie's home, yet no body. Not only is foul play suspected, but Debbie's daughter, Margot, has been living with the scene for three days.

Aware her team cannot convict Margot on appearances alone, Sheehan launches a full investigation into Debbie Nugent's life. And, before long, the discrepancies within Debbie's disappearance suggest that some families are built on dangerous deceptions, with ultimately murderous consequences.


More praise for If Looks Could Kill

'If Looks Could Kill raises the bar once more. Superb plotting, excellent character development and no one does setting better, in my opinion. Clever, stylish, cinematic. And bloody entertaining' Caz Frear

'A superior crime thriller filled with fascinating characters and laced with dark wit. The ending was both shocking and satisfying. Highly recommended' Mark Edwards


'What an absolute winner of a book. Superbly plotted, with characters I immediately want to hang out with more, and an immensely satisfying yet real conclusion. Five stars from me' Gytha Lodge


Play Dead for Me

by Olivia Kiernan

Published 3 April 2018

This novel was previously published as Too Close to Breathe.

Perfect for fans of Tana French, Jane Casey and Gillian Flynn

'Truly first class. Just knock-out' C. J Tudor, author of The Chalk Man
'Fantastic . . . Compelling, chilling and brilliant' Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend
'Mesmerizing . . . murder, betrayal, and secret lives . . . Everything you need in a great thriller' Lisa Gardner, author When You See Me

Respected scientist Dr Eleanor Costello is found hanged in her immaculate home: the scene the very picture of a suicide.

DCS Frankie Sheehan is handed the case, and almost immediately spots foul play.

As Frankie strives to paint a picture of the killer, and their victim, she starts to sense they are part of a larger, darker
canvas, on which the lines between the two blur.

Olivia Kiernan's debut is a bold, brilliant thriller that will keep you guessing and leave you breathless.