They know she killed them. They’ve just never known why.
Connie Cross was a trusted pharmacy assistant when she was arrested for the gruesome murders of at least seven strangers.
Now, she’s serving a whole-life order for the shocking crimes she refuses to explain.
Olivia Lang never forgot Connie, the awkward teenager from a south London estate she first met while working for the police.
Twenty years later, Olivia is desperate to understand what made Connie turn into a murderer.
But as she begins to uncover the truth about the UK’s most notorious female serial killer, Olivia risks revealing secrets she’s kept hidden for years . . .
Book Info: 441 pages. Publisher: Quercus. Publication Date: 15 Jan 2026
My Thoughts:
Connie is a deeply unsettling yet totally compelling story of Connie Cross, who is now serving a whole life sentence for the murder of seven strangers whilst she was a teenager. She has always admitted the crimes and never explained why she killed them.
The story takes the reader on an uncomfortable journey back through Connie’s childhood to present day when she is in prison agreeing to meet with former police woman, Olivia Lang who is now writing a book about Connie.
Olivia met Connie years ago when she was new to the police force and has never forgotten the broken and damaged little girl. For reasons that become clear Olivia left the force and has harboured guilt about Connie every since and now feels it’s time to uncover the truth about these murders and why Connie did it.
Just when you think you know where this book is going, the author turns everything upside down and you are left gasping in shock as the story takes an unlikely and unexpected direction.
This isn’t your typical psychological thriller as we all know from the first page whodunnit.. but what we really want to know and understand is WHY?
With themes of childhood neglect and abuse, it’s not an easy read, but Charlotte Duckworth has created a character it’s hard not to feel sympathy for despite her horrific actions.
Unsettling yet unputdownable.
