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Darling Bud

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Darling Bud

By: C.J. Skuse
Narrated by: Emily Jackman
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Murder can be a family business…

Sixteen-year-old Ivy is your average teenager. She’s annoyed by the scratchy labels on her school uniform, old men who wolf-whistle, and her mother the serial killer.

Ivy was raised far away from the shadows of Rhiannon Lewis, the Sweetpea killer, but when the local predator – better known as Ivy’s football coach – is found dead, could it be that she has discovered a taste for blood?

As suspicion grows deeper, Ivy’s only way out is to get some motherly advice. But when the internet’s unlikeliest vigilantes determine that Ivy must be punished for her mother’s crimes, she must decide whether to control the rage burning inside her.

READERS LOVE C.J. SKUSE!

‘I was completely hooked from start to finish…Absolute perfection!' ★★★★★

'Oh my god 10/10…That was everything and more!!!!!…That ending!!!!!!…I loved it so much!!!' ★★★★★

‘Addictive…Dripping with sharp wit & tension…SMASHED IT. 20/10…Read this book, you will not regret it!' Reader reviewer, ★★★★★

‘Visceral, chilling and absolutely downright thrilling: I wish I had read it sooner!’★★★★★

'Oh my god 10/10 no notes that was everything and more!!!' ★★★★★

©2026 C.J. Skuse (P)2026 HarperCollins Publishers Crime Crime Thrillers Dark Humour Domestic Thrillers Literature & Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense Murder Witty
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Critic reviews

Praise for Darling Bud 'Ivy is a new star in the Sweetpea universe. A riotous read following a wise-cracking teenager doing normal teenage stuff like trying to belong, and non-normal teenage stuff like coping with being the daughter of a famous serial killer. Bluntness, brilliance and bloodshed. Darling Bud has it all’ Asia Mackay
'This is everything I loved about Sweetpea: all the vicious bite, razor wit, and glorious – and rather comedic- darkness. C.J. Skuse is a master of the darkly comic thriller’ H.J. Garbett
'I loved this book … Ivy is just as acerbic (and deadly?) as her mother. Full of CJ Skuse's trademark wit, Darling Bud is a killer addition to the Sweetpea saga’ L.M. Chilton Praise for C.J. Skuse 'I loved this book! It was everything I've come to love from the Sweetpea series, rebooted for a new generation. Ivy is just as acerbic (and deadly?) as her mother. Full of CJ Skuse's trademark wit, Darling Bud is a killer addition to Sweetpea saga’ L.M. Chilton
‘This darkly comic novel…has the potential to become a cult classic’ Daily Mail
‘Filthy and funny… a compulsive read’ Sunday Times
‘This isn’t a book for the squeamish or the faint-hearted … think Bridget Jones meets American Psycho’ Red
‘Dark, depraved and devilishly delicious. A full throttle savage and satirical thriller’ John Marrs, author of The One
‘Hilarious, refreshing, dark and memorable. It doesn’t disappoint, I loved it’ Phoebe Morgan
‘You MUST read this book especially if you like your (anti) heroes dirty-mouthed, deadly and dark, dark dark. ADORED IT' Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle
‘Pitch dark, laugh-out-loud hilarious – the Sweetpea series is pure genius escapism’ Susi Holliday
‘Fascinating, intriguing and twist after twist in the tale’ Suzy K Quinn
‘Dark and wickedly funny, and as dry and acerbic as Fleabag, it’s hard not to love Rhiannon Lewis’ Claire Allan
All stars
Most relevant
Amazing as always. I hope there will be a follow up.
Narration was OK, but I do miss Georgia Macguire

O.M.G.

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I’ve loved all the Sweetpea books so far and this story was great too. I missed Georgia Maguire as her narration was excellent for previous books. The narrator for this book sounded quite young (perfect for Ivy) however the accents were not great especially for Rhiannon as we’re used to Georgia’s voice. I enjoyed the story though and look forward to follow ups.

Great story, rubbish accents

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Another fantastic story and this story could even stand alone as the start of a whole new series.
As a big Sweet Pea audiobook fan, I just didn’t expect that the story could carry on so well…but it really really has.
Georgia Maquire was amazing and really enhanced Rhiannon’s character- the new narrator for Ivy was truly excellent too. I couldn’t have asked for anything better to carry on this amazing saga.

A fresh branch of the Sweet Pea saga

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CJ Skuse has done it again.
The Sweetpea series are my favourite books and Darling Bud has been added to that list!
Amazing. I loved every minute and was sad when it ended.

The sweetest of all peas.

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The Sweetpea series is my favourite, so when I saw that CJ was writing this book, I hoped and prayed it would come to fruition. I was ecstatic to receive an advance reader copy from Netgalley and the publisher, and let me tell you it did not disappoint!!!
This book had me hooked from start to finish. In fact I read it slow so it didn’t have to end so soon!
Darling Bud is set in 2035 and focuses on Ivy, the 16 year old daughter of the Sweetpea serial killer Rhiannon Lewis. Ivy is determined to be everything her biological mother wasn’t, so when she finds herself accused of the murdering her school PE teacher, it starts to get interesting!
Now Georgia Maguire was the GOAT narrator for the Sweetpea series, obviously for Ivy, a new narrator was needed. Emily Jackman did a stella job with the narration…apart from the accents. I really found the accents a bit of a no for me, but other than that, great job!
All in all I loved this instalment and to be honest, I hope that CJ keeps them coming! Five shiny stars overall!

My favourite series!

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