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The Countdown Killer

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The Countdown Killer

By: Sam Holland
Narrated by: Sarah Lambie
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‘I’ve fallen in love with the characters in this series’ ★★★★★

‘Her books are like magnets: one page turns into five, turns into fifty, and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.’ ★★★★★

He's tracking people down one by one And you're next on the list…

A MAN MURDERED, LIVE ON CAMERA

When a DVD is delivered in the dead of night, DCI Cara Elliott hits play on a horrifying showreel of violence… This is death, on demand.

A KILLER COUNTING DOWN

Avid viewers are paying for the killings, with twisted specifications. A request, an abduction, a murder. And always in a forty-eight-hour pattern.

A MISSING DETECTIVE

But when the killer finds out they’re being investigated, they reveal their next target. In forty-eight hours, a police officer will be the one in front of the camera. The hunters have become the hunted, and the clock is ticking…

Praise for Sam Holland's thrillers

‘Smart and brooding, icepick-sharp and shadow-dark; best of all, though, it’s scary as hell. Think you’re tough? Pick up this novel and prove it’ A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window

‘Really disturbing and gripping but with a trademark sexy cop at the heart to offset the serial killer gore. Lots of fun in a very nightmarish way’ Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange

‘Fierce, frightening, twisted and addictive.’ Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End

‘Fast and furious, Sam Holland doesn’t take her foot off the pedal for a second’ Victoria Selman, author of Truly Darkly Deeply

‘If you like crime that’s dark, twisted, and keeps you up all night, Holland is the author for you’ Jack Jordan, author of Do No Harm

‘I raced through this page-turner and slept with the light on after finishing it!’ Elle Croft, author of The Guilty Wife

‘Fascinating, complex characters, whose relationships are every bit as humanly messy as the crime scenes they face’ Dominic Nolan, author of Vine Street

Readers love The Countdown Killer…

‘I’ve fallen in love with the characters in this series’ ★★★★★

‘Her books are like magnets: one page turns into five, turns into fifty, and suddenly it’s 2 a.m.’ ★★★★★

‘An unputdownable read and I read most of it in 24 hours’ ★★★★★

‘Captured me from the first page and didn’t let go’ ★★★★★

‘Gripping, disturbing, and timely’ ★★★★★

‘Honestly, my favourite so far – which says a lot as I was obsessed with The Echo Man!’ ★★★★★

‘One of my most anticipated reads, and it did not disappoint!’ ★★★★★

‘A must-read for fans of gritty police procedurals and serial killer fiction’ ★★★★★

‘A compelling crime thriller with interestingly flawed characters you hope come out the other side intact’ ★★★★★

‘The pacing is electric, with tension that never lets up and twists that genuinely surprised me’ ★★★★★

‘More than just a police procedural thriller’ ★★★★★

©2025 Sam Holland (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers
Crime Fiction Crime Thrillers Mystery Police Procedurals Suspense Thriller & Suspense Women Sleuths
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Critic reviews

'Sam Holland has a loyal following for her Major Crimes series, and this latest instalment should please fans and new readers alike. All the elements are here: the twisted minds, deft action, and sexily messy lives of our favourite cops' Jo Furniss, author of Dead Mile
'A seriously dark, twisted, nail-bitingly tense thrill ride of a book' Cressida McLaughlin, author of The Happy Hour and The Staycation
'Dark, twisted, depraved and utterly compelling' Trevor Wood, author of The Silent Killer
'A body blow of a thriller. Absolutely brilliant' Heather Critchlow, author of Unsolved
'As ever Sam Holland has excelled themselves with this story of bitter revenge … One of the best novels I've read this year and a masterclass in crime writing' James Delargy, author of Into The Flames
'Strap in tight! With a screamingly high body count, this lightning-paced, twisty, gritty police procedural is a rollercoaster of a ride' Rachel Wolf, author of Five Nights and Sun Trap
‘Her finest work yet combining sheer brutality with so much heart … From the first page to the jaw-dropping conclusion—one I never saw coming—I was completely hooked’ Chris Frost, author of the Killer’s Christmas List
'Beautifully unrestrained. No thriller writer is on more intimate terms with their dark side than Sam Holland' Dominic Nolan, author of White City
More praise for Sam Holland
‘Smart and brooding, icepick-sharp and shadow-dark; best of all, though, it’s scary as hell. Think you’re tough? Pick up this novel and prove it’ A. J. Finn, author of The Woman in the Window
‘If you like crime that’s dark, twisted, and keeps you up all night, Holland is the author for you’ Jack Jordan, author of Do No Harm
‘Really disturbing and gripping but with a trademark sexy cop at the heart to offset the serial killer gore. Lots of fun in a very nightmarish way’ Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange
‘Fierce, frightening, twisted and addictive.’ Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End
All stars
Most relevant
I’m bowled over by how well written and exciting the Major Crimes series has been. I’ve consumed all four books one after the other and have loved them all. I listened to the climax of this book whilst out for a walk and found myself stopped in the middle of the street, covered in goosebumps and gasping out loud!!! The entire journey has been wonderful and the narration has been superb. Thank you for a fantastic reading experience

What a journey it’s been!!!!

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Another captivating, edge-of-your-seat storyline from Sam Holland! The Countdown Killer is a masterclass in tension, pacing, and emotional depth. If this is Book 4, then Book 5 can’t come soon enough! *starts manifesting.

Holland’s writing flows with a natural intensity that few authors can match, especially when handling such dark and complex subject matter. Every sentence pulls you in deeper, each chapter ratcheting up the suspense while never losing sight of the emotional core. I genuinely don’t know how she does it. Her ability to keep you hanging on every word is unmatched.

I’m so glad I discovered her work. If you love thrillers that go beyond trauma, crime, and brutality - stories packed with lessons learned, grief, and many moments of hope, then this one absolutely delivers. Sam Holland is always good, and this book is no exception!

Sam Holland knocks it out of the park (YET AGAIN!)

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I love this author and she didn't disappoint. Another amazing story that I couldn't stop listening to

Brilliant Story Line

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Absolutely loved the conclusion and the whole series, excellent writing by the author. I don't want it to end but look forward to the future stories.

Best one yet

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Format: audiobook
Narrator: Sarah Lambie

This booked had me hooked from the very beginning, I loved the Echo Man by this author so I knew this one would be good but it exceeded my expectations.

A narrator can make or break a book for me, there are several books that I avoid the audio version of as the narrator really doesn’t work for me but I’m please to say this narrator does a fabulous job.

The countdown killer

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