The Woman Before Me
Published on 21. May 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-00-880373-5 (ISBN)
Description
'I was drawn into the book in the best way... really dug into parts of my soul' ?????
'An ending that took my breath away and left my mind reeling!' ?????
Love can destroy. Obsession can kill.
Emma Hatcher has all that Rose Wilks lacks. Effortless beauty. A loving husband. A healthy son. Until tragedy strikes, leaving Rose the only suspect.
After nearly five years in prison, Rose is just weeks away from freedom. If she is granted parole.
Probation officer Cate Austin must decide whether Rose is remorseful for the shocking crime that put her behind bars, or whether she remains a threat to society. As Cate is drawn in, she begins to doubt her own judgement.
Where is the line between love and obsession? Can justice be served and, if so ... by what means?
The gripping, twisty first book in the Cate Austin Casefiles series and winner of the CWA Debut Dagger Award. Fans of K.L. Slater, Joy Ellis and All Her Fault will devour this gripping psychological thriller.
See what readers are saying about The Woman Before Me:
'I thought I saw the ending coming but I didn't see it all!' ?????
'Chaotic, messed up and totally unhinged. My kind of thriller ??' ????
'Goodness ... this gripped me and I wasn't able to put it down' ?????
'Authentic...diverting debut' Daily Mail
'Ruth Dugdall's novels are intelligent and gripping, with a sophisticated psychological sensibility. She is a huge talent.' Sophie Hannah
'I found this story an irresistible read. It's a psychological crime thriller that seemed to linger'?????
'A must read this book kept me guessing right until the end. I literally couldn't put it down'?????
'Absolutely loved this book and all subsequent Cate Austin novels'?????
'An ending that took my breath away and left my mind reeling!' ?????
Love can destroy. Obsession can kill.
Emma Hatcher has all that Rose Wilks lacks. Effortless beauty. A loving husband. A healthy son. Until tragedy strikes, leaving Rose the only suspect.
After nearly five years in prison, Rose is just weeks away from freedom. If she is granted parole.
Probation officer Cate Austin must decide whether Rose is remorseful for the shocking crime that put her behind bars, or whether she remains a threat to society. As Cate is drawn in, she begins to doubt her own judgement.
Where is the line between love and obsession? Can justice be served and, if so ... by what means?
The gripping, twisty first book in the Cate Austin Casefiles series and winner of the CWA Debut Dagger Award. Fans of K.L. Slater, Joy Ellis and All Her Fault will devour this gripping psychological thriller.
See what readers are saying about The Woman Before Me:
'I thought I saw the ending coming but I didn't see it all!' ?????
'Chaotic, messed up and totally unhinged. My kind of thriller ??' ????
'Goodness ... this gripped me and I wasn't able to put it down' ?????
'Authentic...diverting debut' Daily Mail
'Ruth Dugdall's novels are intelligent and gripping, with a sophisticated psychological sensibility. She is a huge talent.' Sophie Hannah
'I found this story an irresistible read. It's a psychological crime thriller that seemed to linger'?????
'A must read this book kept me guessing right until the end. I literally couldn't put it down'?????
'Absolutely loved this book and all subsequent Cate Austin novels'?????
Reviews / Votes
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 SherrattMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 129 mm
Width: 198 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
206 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-880373-5 (9780008803735)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Ruth Dugdall is an internationally published novelist, a #1 bestselling author and a short story writer. Her previous career was as a Youth Justice Social Worker, then she worked for 10 years as a Probation Officer.