The Sacrificial Man
Read The Sacrificial Man Online
Authors: Ruth Dugdall
Ruth Dugdall
studied English Literature at Warwick University before taking an MA in Social Work at the University of East Anglia. After graduating she worked for almost a decade within the criminial justice system, first as a youth justice social worker and then as a probation officer, before dedicating herself to writing novels.
Her first novel,
The James Version,
is a historical fiction based on the notorious murder of Maria Marten in the Red Barn, Suffolk.
The Woman Before Me,
the first novel to feature probation officer Cate Austin, was published by Legend Press in August 2010. It won the CWA Debut Dagger, the 2009 Luke Bitmead Bursary Award, was shortlisted for the 2011 People’s Book Prize, and longlisted for the New Angle Book Prize.
The Sacrifical Man
is Ruth’s third novel.
The Sacrificial
Man
Ruth Dugdall
Legend Press Ltd, 2 London Wall Buildings,
London EC2M 5UU
[email protected]
www.legendpress.co.uk
Contents © Ruth Dugdall 2011
The right of the above author to be identified as the author of
this work has been asserted in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patent Act 1988.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data available.
ISBN 978-1-9082480-0-8
eISBN 978-1-9082481-5-2
1
All characters, other than those clearly in the public domain, and
place names, other than those well-established such as towns and
cities, are fictitious and any resemblance is purely coincidental.
Edited by: Lauren Parsons-Wolff
Set in Times Printed by CPI Books, United Kingdom
Cover designed by Tim Bremner
Bremner Design
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or trans-
mitted, in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission
of the publisher. Any person who commits any unauthorised act in
relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution
and civil claims for damages.
Praise for Ruth Dugdall
‘An enthralling psychological thriller – perfect for fans of
Sophie Hannah’
Bestselling author Sam Mills
‘Dark, disturbing and authentic’
CWA judging panel
‘Impressive in its unflinching realism, this is a dark and
haunting psychological thriller that possesses both depth and
sensitivity.’
Crime Time
‘This novel is an extremely addictive debut… a real page-
turner… As a debut novel, this is a remarkably assured and
well-written book’
Petrona
‘Authentic… diverting debut’
The Daily Mail
‘always a page-turner… Just when I thought I'd got it sussed,
I'm proved wrong. This is a clever and suspenseful story told
in an engaging style.’
thebookbag.co.uk
‘a young British crime-writer who uses her career in the
Probation Service to stunning effect… a bleak, dark psycho-
logical thriller, at times quite hypnotic… gripping and
powerful.’
Mike Ripley, Shotsmag
‘outstanding novel…sheer time-stopping suspense’
Katie McGrainor, Staffordshire and West Midlands
Probation Trust
‘I read it in about two days, constantly thinking about the
characters and the story, so much that I had to pick it up
again and again!’
Nikki Dudley, author and blogger
‘an enthralling psychological thriller and is in turns moving,
tragic, tense and altogether very well written…always a
page-turner’
Allovertown.co.uk
‘Very fine debut’
DJs krimiblog
Reader reviews
‘instantly engaging and kept me gripped throughout. I'd go
so far as to say it's unputdownable… an impressive debut
and I would recommend it without reservation.’
TARguy, Colchester
‘The characters are very rounded and believable, arousing
sympathy and mistrust throughout the book. It's very pacy
and keeps you guessing right to the end.’
LadyMacbeth
‘Dugdall spins a very clever web of deceit and entwines her
characters into her story. I totally enjoyed the book, as did
the book club.’
May Bee
‘the pages turn faster and faster as you go. This story is a
refreshing change from the usual crime mystery, populated
with real characters you can believe in. An excellent novel.’
Frances Day, Gloucestershire
‘I really liked the style of writing and the way it differed
from so many other crime thrillers out there… I would not
hesitate to recommend this book’
Julia Shaw
‘There were no winners among the characters in this novel
but this is a winning book in more senses than one and I am
glad I read it.’
H Gore, Essex
‘Dugdall draws her characters with consummate skill, using
her personal experience as a Probation Officer in a women's
prison to bring them to life. She holds the reader's attention
through to the end’
Wendy, Dorset
‘This story is about so many different things, loss, relation-
ships, jealousy and obsession all displayed in a measured
manner… Fantastic I hope Ruth Dugdall writes more for us’
C. Bannister, Jersey
‘psychologically acute; it is also, more importantly, very,
very moving.’
David Rose
‘a finely crafted piece of observation. A precise study of
human need… excellent stuff!’
Gary Murning
‘Dark and disturbing, this psychological thriller will stay
with you long after you've put the book down.’
S Lovett, Essex
‘I loved this book even with its dark subject matter, and read
it in two sittings. It is a real page turner and written with real
insight into all the characters.’
M. Squirrell
‘Absolutely brilliant. I could not put it down and read it in a
day. Still thinking about the characters now.’
Schoolescort
‘This one is definitely addictive and definitely leaves you
wanting more.’
Kayscarpetta, Cleveland
‘What makes this thriller so successful is the way sadness
and creepiness combine – in the sense that the reader feels
that such a story could happen in anybody's life.’
Petch
‘This was a page turner from beginning to end… I cannot
wait for the next installment from this author.’
AY Smith
‘It was marvellous, a real diametric juxtaposition of raw
emotion and sophisticated narrative, pacy plotlines and luxu-
riously laconic descriptions reminiscent of authors such as
John Connolly’
Mark, Scotland
‘With a fantastic eye for detail and sense of place this story
will stay with you long after you've finished reading it.’
Green One
‘A dark and captivating read. Dugdall reveals her skills as a
‘wordsmith,’ creating a spare and compelling narrative that is
both satisfying and disquieting.’
Bhgirl
‘If you like dark and disturbing plots, this is for you! You'll
be gripped by the relentless pace of the story and be
prepared for a couple of shocks at the end.’
