Listen to a sample
The Woman Before Me
The Cate Austin Casefiles (Book 1)
- Author
- Ruth Dugdall
- Narrator
- Jane Fox, Kate Okello
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date
- 21 May 2026
- Run Time
- 9 hours 38 minutes
- Format
- x-book®
What to expect
'I was HOOKED. I read this book in a matter of hours racing to get to the final pages … It’s full on twisty, suspenseful and the ending, just wait till you read that!' ★★★★★
'I was drawn into the book in the best way… really dug into parts of my soul' ★★★★★
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 – and, ultimately, the only one held responsible.
Now, 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'★★★★★
Critics Review
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Praise for Ruth Dugdall:'Twisty, profound and completely convincing, it grips the reader by the heart. Unputdownable' Erin Kelly
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‘Ruth Dugdall’s novels are intelligent and gripping, with a sophisticated psychological sensibility. She is a huge talent’ Sophie Hannah
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‘Authentic … diverting debut’ Daily Mail
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'A chilling tale of betrayal and obsession…keeps its secrets well' Publishers Weekly
See more reviews See fewer reviews
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'Well plotted…The author understands how to build suspense and create atmosphere' Kirkus
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'The menace is skillfully intensified by Dugdall… a twisting labyrinth of child-trafficking and police cover ups' The Times
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‘Timely and beautifully-written… Highly recommended’ Mark Edwards
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‘An absolute tour de force that left me thinking for days’ Alex Marwood
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‘A chilling psychological thriller with a shocking twist. I read it one day and couldn’t put it down’ Louise Millar
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'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
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'An intelligent mystery, beautifully written, with an intriguing storyline. This one will keep you up to the wee small hours' Jane Isaac
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'Utterly chilling' Karen Maitland
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'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
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'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
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'A thought-provoking and tension-filled novel – with evocative characters and an ending that I didn’t expect' Mel Sherratt
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Ruth Dugdall
- Narrator
- Jane Fox, Kate Okello
- Duration
- 9 hours 38 minutes
- Release Date
- 21 May 2026
- ISBN
- 9780008803759
- Format
- x-book®
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers
- Genre
- Psychological thriller, Crime and mystery: women sleuths / detectives, Narrative theme: love / relationships
Synopsis
'I was HOOKED. I read this book in a matter of hours racing to get to the final pages … It’s full on twisty, suspenseful and the ending, just wait till you read that!' ★★★★★ 'I was drawn into the book in the best way… really dug into parts of my soul' ★★★★★ 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 – and, ultimately, the only one held responsible. Now, 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'★★★★★
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