The Rival

An addictive psychological suspense about ambition, female rivalry, and how far you'd go to get what you want.

'A Chilling read with a killer twist'

The Sun

NOW

Helena is a career woman with no job and a mother without a baby. She blames Ashley for destroying her life. But is what happened really Ashley's fault?

THEN

When Helena hires Ashley to work for her, she's startled but impressed by her fierce ambition. They form a dream team and Helena is proud - maybe this is the protegee she's always wanted to have. But soon Helena realizes that nothing will stand in the way of Ashley's drive to get to the top. And when Helena becomes pregnant, everything she has worked so hard for is suddenly threatened, with devastating consequences...

'Brilliant and insidious'

Lucy Clarke, author of YOU LET ME IN

'Absolutely terrific, a beautifully written debut from an exciting new voice in psychological fiction' Cass Green, author of THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR and DON'T YOU CRY

'A compelling addictive read... I absolutely loved it'

Karen Hamilton, author of THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND

'A chilling and compelling debut'

Lucy Dawson, author of THE DAUGHTER

“Absolutely terrific , a beautifully written debut from an exciting new voice in psychological fiction”

Brilliant and insidious - Lucy Clarke, author of Last Seen

This is a taut, chilling read with a killer twist at the end - Sun

Absolutely terrific, a beautifully written debut from an exciting new voice in psychological fiction - Cass Green, bestselling author of In a Cottage in a Wood

A fantastic debut of how female relationships can turn toxic with devastating consequences - Sue Fortin, author of Sister Sister

A compelling, addictive read... I absolutely loved it - Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend

A chilling and compelling debut - Lucy Dawson, author of The Daughter

The Rival is a gripping psychological suspense that delves deep into the complex relationship of two women - Elisabeth Carpenter, author of 99 Red Balloons

A gripping, unpredictable read with two compelling female characters who I both loved and hated in equal measure - Tracy Buchanan

Charlotte Duckworth is the USA Today bestselling author of The Rival, Unfollow Me, The Perfect Father and The Sanctuary. Her fifth psychological suspense, The Wrong Mother, was published by Quercus in early 2023.

She started her career working as an interiors and lifestyle journalist, writing for a wide range of consumer magazines and websites.

She also writes contemporary bookclub fiction under the pen name Charlotte Rixon.

Charlotte lives in Surrey with her partner and their daughter.

An addictive psychological suspense about ambition, female rivalry, and how far you'd go to get what you want. 'A Chilling read with a killer twist' The Sun NOW Helena is a career woman with no job and a mother without a baby. She blames Ashley for destroying her life. But is what happened really Ashley's fault? THEN When Helena hires Ashley to work for her, she's startled but impressed by her fierce ambition. They form a dream team and Helena is proud - maybe this is the protegee she's always wanted to have. But soon Helena realizes that nothing will stand in the way of Ashley's drive to get to the top. And when Helena becomes pregnant, everything she has worked so hard for is suddenly threatened, with devastating consequences... 'Brilliant and insidious' Lucy Clarke, author of YOU LET ME IN 'Absolutely terrific, a beautifully written debut from an exciting new voice in psychological fiction' Cass Green, author of THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR and DON'T YOU CRY 'A compelling addictive read... I absolutely loved it' Karen Hamilton, author of THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND 'A chilling and compelling debut' Lucy Dawson, author of THE DAUGHTER

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