Sick to Death - by Chris Bridges (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

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Meet Emma. Emma is sick.

She can't work because of a neurological condition, so is stuck in her family's tiny council house.

Emma is sick of being told to 'get over it'.

Her stepfather, her doctors, strangers - everyone has an opinion.

Emma is sick of being the other woman.

Her boyfriend Adam is perfect: he's got a great job and an amazing home. His wife Celeste is the problem.

Emma is sick of being underestimated.

All she needed was a target. And now she has Celeste...

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Shortlisted for the McDermid Debut Award

An Observer crime and thriller pick of the month

'Emma is a force to be reckoned with...deliciously dark and twisted, and a lot of fun.' OBSERVER

AUTHORS LOVE SICK TO DEATH:

'A hugely gripping and enjoyable debut... Clever and witty.' ABIGAIL DEAN

'A gripping debut from a unique new voice. Bridges writes with a stinging authenticity and tinder-dry humour. Emma is the kind of character who will have you looking over your shoulder.' ERIN KELLY

'A slick and exciting debut that had me devouring each page. Emma is simultaneously totally chilling yet totally believable. A twist to rival Gone Girl left me gasping.' KATY BRENT

'A dazzling debut, skillfully crafted and full of surprises. Beautifully written, utterly original and shockingly dark.' LESLEY KARA

'Thrilling, moving and thought-provoking, with a brilliant central character. A skilful suspense novel.' B. P. WALTER

'The kinds of twists and turns that make you gasp...hard to put down.' JENNIE GODFREY

'An urgent and compelling thriller from a much-needed new voice' ANNA BAILEY

'A stunning debut...the definition of a propulsive and unforgettable psychological thriller.' ASHLEY TATE

'Sharply written, with a frenetic pace and nothing you expect. Clever and twisty with such a kick.' LOUISE SWANSON

'Impossible to put down...slick and riveting.' RUTH IRONS

'A sizzling saucepot of a domestic thriller.' MIRA V SHAH

'Twisty, dark, and full of heart. I didn't want it to end!' NATALI SIMMONDS

'Smoulders until the very end. A tale of love, betrayal, hope and despair...totally addictive.' G. D. WRIGHT

READERS LOVE SICK TO DEATH:

'I read a lot of thrillers and can always guess the twists...but not this time!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'At last, a totally original drama! Fabulously written characters and a storyline I became totally immersed in!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Nothing could have prepared me for how this book was going to go. The twists and turns gave me whiplash!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Honestly such a great book, so well portrayed how it feels to live with a chronic illness!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A disturbing, complex and original thriller where you never know who to trust!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A rollercoaster ride... highly original with brilliant characters!' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I admit I had some preconceptions about this book and I have never been so happy to be wrong. Excellent, clever and thrilling.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review Quotes

'A hugely gripping and enjoyable debut... Clever and witty.' Abigail Dean

'A gripping debut from a unique new voice. Bridges writes with a stinging authenticity and tinder-dry humour. Emma is the kind of character who will have you looking over your shoulder.' Sunday Times bestselling author Erin Kelly

'A slick and exciting debut that had me devouring each page. Emma is simultaneously totally chilling yet totally believable. A twist to rival Gone Girl left me gasping.' Katy Brent, author of How to Kill Men and Get Away With It

'A dazzling debut, skillfully crafted and full of surprises. Beautifully written, utterly original and shockingly dark.' Sunday Times bestselling author Lesley Kara

'The kinds of twists and turns that make you gasp...hard to put down.' Sunday Times bestselling author Jennie Godfrey

'Thrilling, moving and thought-provoking, with a brilliant central character. A skilful suspense novel.' Sunday Times bestselling author B.P. Walter

'An urgent and compelling thriller from a much-needed new voice' Sunday Times bestselling author Anna Bailey

'More layers than a multi-story car park, and more twists than a roller coaster...' Kindle #1 Bestseller Carole Hailey

'A stunning debut. The definition of a propulsive and unforgettable psychological thriller.' Internationally bestselling author Ashley Tate

'Sharply written, with a frenetic pace and nothing you expect. Clever and twisty with such a kick.' Louise Swanson

'Impossible to put down...slick and riveting.' Ruth Irons

'A sizzling saucepot of a domestic thriller.' Mira V Shah

'Twisty, dark, and full of heart. I didn't want it to end! Natali Simmonds

'Smoulders until the very end. A tale of love, betrayal, hope and despair...totally addictive.' G. D. Wright

'A twisty, sneaky little thriller.' Laura Elliott

'Fresh and inventive with a distinctive, witty voice.' Jo Leevers

'Like a thumbscrew, the tension never lets up.' Tania Tay

'A deliciously twisty thriller!' Fiza Saeed McLynn

About the Author

Chris Bridges is an alumnus of the 2022 London Writers Award and was shortlisted for the 2025 McDermid Debut Award.

He previously wrote a weekly column for an LGBTQ+ lifestyle website and was a theatre reviewer for various sites.

As a former NHS nurse with a hidden disability, he likes to feature the untold stories of sick, dying, and disabled people in his work and smash the trope of the passive disabled character with a background role.

Chris lives in Hastings. He is fanatical about crime fiction. When not writing, he can be found reading compulsively or walking his uptight poodle, Frida Kahlo.

Sick to Death is Chris' debut novel, published by Avon, an imprint of HarperCollins.