Publication Date: October 19, 2026
I thought she was dead. Then I saw her…
Sophie and I were the best of friends. We lived together. We laughed together. We did everything together.
Now I stand in the rain outside the churchyard, hiding behind the trees. I know her family blame me for her death. They will never believe me, even if I try to explain.
And then a woman among the crowd draws my eye and I start to shake. The long strawberry blonde hair. The shape of her nose. It’s Sophie.
It can’t be true. But in the days that follow, when I see her again at the end of our street, when I find the photo in her empty room, when the cruel tricks start again… I’m forced to wonder:
Am I going mad, or is Sophie still alive?
And if she’s still alive, what will she do to me?
A completely gripping thriller about toxic friendships that will keep you turning pages as the tension mounts. Fans of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley will love The Woman at the Funeral.
Maggie O’Connell eagerly moves to London for a chance at independence, only to make a friend whose mind games threaten Maggie’s sanity.
Author S.E. Lynes weaves psychological tension throughout The Woman at the Funeral. Using a present/past approach, the author sets up a horrifying premise while slowly filling in the gaps.
Sophie’s character takes on a chameleon-like exterior, drawing Maggie in with flattery before isolating her from everyone else. The manipulative behavior is shocking, especially when paired with an alleged medical diagnosis.
Maggie’s people-pleasing personality gets a jolt when Sophie’s antics threaten to destroy Maggie’s connection with Adam. In the aftermath, Maggie begins to doubt reality.
The author manages to maintain the suspense throughout the story, ensuring that readers are hooked until the shocking conclusion.
The Woman at the Funeral delivers a shocking story featuring a micro-aggressive manipulator with no boundaries.
Formerly a BBC producer, S.E. Lynes turned to writing following the birth of her third child. After completing an MA in Creative Writing, she became a tutor at Richmond Adult Community College, where she taught creative writing for over ten years. She now combines writing, mentoring and lecturing. Her debut, Valentina, was published by Blackbird Digital Books in 2016. Her follow up, the dark and twisting bestseller Mother, was published by Bookouture in November 2017 and Susie has gone on to publish gripping psychological thrillers with them ever since.
