X-Book

The Sacrificial Man

Cate Austin (Book 2)

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

‘Reading this book was like a drug. I could not put it down’★★★★★

‘Chilling, gripping and stomach-lurchingly twisted’ ★★★★★

A deadly choice in the name of love.

Probation officer Cate Austin faces the highest‑profile case of her career: Alice Mariani, a celebrated university lecturer, has been charged with assisting in the death of her lover. But at what point does a private pact become a public crime?

Every interview with Alice peels back another layer of secrecy. As media and campaigners swarm the courtroom, Cate is forced into a legal blind spot — and a brutal dilemma.

Will a lover's last request become a deadly price to pay?

Don't miss this gripping thriller, perfect for fans of Joy Ellis from award-winning, Kindle #1 bestselling author Ruth Dugdall, as discussed on Radio 4’s ‘Woman’s Hour’.

Readers love The Sacrificial Man:

'Gripping, original, authentic' Erin Kelly

‘Ruth Dugdall has the ability to get under a character’s skin so thoroughly that they seem real, making them all the more scary’ ★★★★★

'Another dark and disturbing read in a brilliant series'★★★★★

'I would strongly recommend this to anyone who likes thrillers with bizarre and unsuspecting twists'★★★★★

'There has always been something exceptional about the words written by Ruth Dugdall'★★★★★

Critics Review

Praise for Ruth Dugdall:'Twisty, profound and completely convincing, it grips the reader by the heart. Unputdownable' Erin Kelly
‘Ruth Dugdall’s novels are intelligent and gripping, with a sophisticated psychological sensibility. She is a huge talent’ Sophie Hannah
‘Authentic … diverting debut’ Daily Mail
'A chilling tale of betrayal and obsession…keeps its secrets well' Publishers Weekly
'Well plotted…The author understands how to build suspense and create atmosphere' Kirkus
'The menace is skillfully intensified by Dugdall… a twisting labyrinth of child-trafficking and police cover ups' The Times
‘Timely and beautifully-written… Highly recommended’ Mark Edwards
‘An absolute tour de force that left me thinking for days’ Alex Marwood
‘A chilling psychological thriller with a shocking twist. I read it one day and couldn’t put it down’ Louise Millar
'Dugdall’s background as a probation officer shines as she gets inside the heads of a range of characters, some quirky, some terrifying, all fascinating. In this chilling psychological thriller, she doesn’t so much prod the seedy underbelly of Europe as rips it wide open' Mike Craven
'An intelligent mystery, beautifully written, with an intriguing storyline. This one will keep you up to the wee small hours' Jane Isaac
'Utterly chilling' Karen Maitland
'Ruth Dugdall has created a child killer who is no evil stereotype. She skillfully reveals his thoughts and his motives, pulling the reader into a story that spirals towards a shocking conclusion. One to make you think' Julie Corbin
'Intelligent, thought-provoking and tense, Humber Boy B deals with an emotive subject sensitively whilst continually piling on the suspense. Once you start reading you won’t be able to stop until you reach the heart-stopping end' C.L Taylor
'A thought-provoking and tension-filled novel – with evocative characters and an ending that I didn’t expect' Mel Sherratt
Author Ruth Dugdall
Narrator Jane Fox, Isabella Inchbald
Series Cate Austin, The Cate Austin Casefiles
Duration 9 hours and 20 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9780008804305
Format x-book®
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Genre Crime and mystery: women sleuths, Narrative theme: Love and relationships, Psychological thriller
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

More from the same

Author

About xigxag and the x-book®

xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK’s only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.

Our x-book® format is the only fully integrated listen-and-read experience available. See the text on screen as you listen, look up words, take notes, search within the book, and share quotes. It is especially useful for accessibility, language learning, and getting more from non-fiction. Look for the purple x-book® ribbon on the cover, or filter your search by “x-book” to find them.

There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at £8.99. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from £3.99. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.

Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.

Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.