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The Playground Murders
The Detective's Daughter (Book 7)
- Author
- Lesley Thomson
- Narrator
- Anna Bentinck
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Publish Date
- 16 August 2026
- Run Time
- 13 hours 13 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
'A class above' IAN RANKIN.
Forty years ago, in the dark of the playground, two children's lives were changed for ever.
The case of six-year-old Sarah Ferris, killed in an empty playground, haunted Hammersmith police for decades. Not just because the victim would never see her seventh birthday. But because solving the case meant arresting another child on suspicion of Sarah's murder.
Now, forty years later, cleaner-turned-detective Stella Darnell has unearthed new information about Sarah and her killer.
As Stella pieces together the truth about what happened all those years ago, she is drawn into a story of jealousy, betrayal and the end of innocence. A story that has not yet reached its end...
'One of the most original characters in British crime fiction' SUNDAY TIMES.
'Thomson creates a rich and sinister world that is utterly unique... Gloriously well-written' WILLIAM SHAW.
Critics Review
-
As compelling as its predecessors... A white-knuckle read'
The Tablet
-
This is a dark complex novel with many twists and turns that will keep you turning the page... It's a story of jealousy, betrayal and menace where no one remains unscathed'
Mystery People
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Lesley Thomson
- Narrator
- Anna Bentinck
- Duration
- 13 hours 13 minutes
- Release Date
- 16 August 2026
- ISBN
- 9781035927012
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Bloomsbury Publishing
- Genre
- Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives, Thriller / suspense fiction, Fiction
Synopsis
Bloomsbury presents The Playground Murders by Lesley Thomson, read by Anna Bentinck'A class above' IAN RANKIN. Forty years ago, in the dark of the playground, two children's lives were changed for ever. The case of six-year-old Sarah Ferris, killed in an empty playground, haunted Hammersmith police for decades. Not just because the victim would never see her seventh birthday. But because solving the case meant arresting another child on suspicion of Sarah's murder. Now, forty years later, cleaner-turned-detective Stella Darnell has unearthed new information about Sarah and her killer. As Stella pieces together the truth about what happened all those years ago, she is drawn into a story of jealousy, betrayal and the end of innocence. A story that has not yet reached its end... 'One of the most original characters in British crime fiction' SUNDAY TIMES. 'Thomson creates a rich and sinister world that is utterly unique... Gloriously well-written' WILLIAM SHAW.
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