The Parkwood Murders

Detective Nicola Bridge returns in the thrilling new novel from Chris Chibnall, creator of Broadchurch and showrunner of Seven Dials, and Sunday Times bestselling author of Death at the White Hart

'A brilliant whodunnit... This series gets better and better' Jennie Godfrey

'This guy knows how to tell a story, that's for sure’ Lee Child

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For its many repeat customers, Parkwood Holiday Village in west Dorset is a haven – an idyllic woodland, a tranquil lake, customer service around the clock.

Until, just before dawn the day after midsummer, a body is found in the resort’s swimming pool .

Detective Nicola Bridge, exhausted from late nights worrying about her increasingly errant teenage son, faces an endless stream of potential witnesses. But as she speaks to the guests and staff, she soon uncovers an interconnected web of secrets and lies.

Was the killer the guest who lied to his wife about where he was that night?

Was it the arrogant high ropes instructor who’s unable to explain his recent scars?

Or might it be the new resort manager, an impeccably put-together woman with a very big secret

With hundreds of restless guests and staff on site, Nicola knows the clock is ticking to find the killer before they disappear for good.

Or before they strike again…

Chris Chibnall is a #2 Sunday Times bestselling author. His acclaimed debut novel ‘Death at the White Hart’ was an instant bestseller, receiving a 2026 British Book Award nomination in the Crime Thriller category, alongside Richard Osman, Frieda McFadden, Dan Brown, Liz Moore and Sally Smith. It was also nominated for Best Debut Novel at the 2026 International Thriller Writers’ Awards.

‘The Parkwood Murders’, the second in the series featuring DS Nicola Bridge and DC Harry Ward, is due to be published on 16 July in the UK.

Chris is also a BAFTA, Royal Television Society, Broadcasting Press Guild and Peabody award-winning screenwriter and producer. His television work includes ‘'Broadchurch' – remade as 'Gracepoint' in the US and 'Malaterra' in France, Agatha Christie’s Seven Dials’ for Netflix, ‘Doctor Who' (as both showrunner and writer), 'The Great Train Robbery', 'United', 'Law & Order:UK', 'Torchwood', 'Life on Mars' and 'Born and Bred'.

His plays include 'One Last Push', 'Worst Wedding Ever', 'Kiss Me Like You Mean It' (Soho Theatre and Theatre de l'Oeuvre in Paris) and 'Gaffer!'