The Shark

A Novel

Emma Styles

In this captivating new crime thriller, a serial killer is stalking the beaches of Western Australia, as two teenage girls dead-set on revenge take matters into their own hands.

At the height of Australian summer, a serial killer dubbed The Shark stalks a beachside suburb, targeting young female swimmers whose bodies are later found on the shoreline.

Disempowered and angry at the failures of the police to protect them, two young women—Raych and Carmen—are hell-bent on revenge. Raych has lost someone and will go to any length to discover what happened to her, while Carmen suspects her own disturbing connection to the killer.

Together they form an uneasy alliance and, in a moment that changes the trajectory of their lives, Carmen and Raych find and capture the prime suspect. Do they think they can save the day—or are their intentions darker? Can they trust one another's agenda? And when another young woman goes missing, do they start suspecting each other of something more devious?

Emma Styles writes contemporary noir about young women taking on the patriarchy. She grew up in Perth in Western Australia and now lives in London, where she was born. Emma has an MA in crime fiction from the University of East Anglia. No Country for Girls was her debut novel; it won the Little, Brown UEA Crime Fiction Award. You can find Emma on Twitter @emstylesauthor, Instagram @emmastylesauthor, and learn more about her road trip influences at emmastylesauthor.com.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Early praise for The Shark:

"Uniquely Australian and packed with atmosphere, The Shark follows Raych and Carmen, both affected by loss and guilt, as they track down a serial killer in their community. Bursting with tension, this is riveting reading.” Sam Holland, author of The Countdown Killer

Past praise for Emma Styles:

"Bold and badass, the kind of searingly stylish, unrelenting page-turner I just adore. I burned through the twisting plot.” Chris Whitaker, author of All the Colors of the Dark

"Styles's first novel starts with a bang. There are decided echoes of films such as Shallow Grave and Thelma & Louise in this bumpy road trip. The real star is the desolate outback.” The Times (London)

"A thrilling cross-country chase through remote Australia.” The Sunday Post (Australia)

"Razor-sharp wit meets pumping action, with twists and turns to keep the pages turning! No Country for Girls is the road trip for our time; relevant, powerful and unrelentingly entertaining. Welcome Emma Styles. We didn't know how much we needed you until you came.” Femi Kayode, autor of Lightseekers