Worst Case Scenario

A deliciously dark, unapologetically funny psychological thriller by the international bestselling author of The Cry

‘It takes a special kind of evil genius to write crime this dark and make it this funny. I feel like ONLY Helen FitzGerald could have created this book. Shocking, gripping and laugh-out-loud hilarious from the first line to the last. Brilliant’ Erin Kelly

‘The main character is one of the most extraordinary you’ll meet between the pages of a book’ Ian Rankin

‘Outrageous, extremely funny and ultimately devastating’ Ambrose Parry

Mary Shields is a moody, acerbic probation offer, dealing with some of Glasgow’s worst cases, and her job is on the line. Liam Macdowall was imprisoned for murdering his wife, and he’s published a series of letters to the dead woman, in a book that makes him an unlikely hero – and a poster boy for Men’s Rights activists.

Liam is released on licence into Mary’s care, but things are far from simple. Mary develops a poisonous obsession with Liam and his world, and when her son and Liam’s daughter form a relationship, Mary will stop at nothing to impose her own brand of justice … with devastating consequences.

A heart-pounding, relentless and chilling psychological thriller, rich with deliciously dark and unapologetic humour, Worst Case Scenario is also a perceptive, tragic and hugely relevant book by one of the most exciting names in crime fiction.

‘I've been a fan of Helen FitzGerald's for a long time now. She never, ever disappoints. WORST CASE SCENARIO is simply stunning. Dark, uncompromising, funny, and almost impossible to put down’ Luca Veste

‘Dark humour and darker truths permeate a thrilling crime novel that is fabulously transgressive and completely unique. The best-case scenario would be her next novel in my hands right now, because nobody writes like Helen Fitzgerald’ Mark Billingham

‘Very dark, very funny and very original. Helen Fitzgerald is one of a kind, and a welcome breath of fresh air in the world of off-beat but achingly relatable crime fiction’ SJI Holliday

‘I’m convinced that Helen FitzGerald is some kind of genius. It’s dark, unsettling, shocking and brilliantly funny – often at the same time. It also confirms her as queen of the killer opening line. Loved it’ Paul Burston

‘Loved it! Helen recalls in me my deep early-20s love affair with Carl Hiassen … Gloriously dark, deliciously salacious and laugh out loud funny. I lapped this up and didn’t want it to end. Fabulous’ Amanda Jennings

‘This book took me on such a journey and a range of emotions!! Laughing, cringing and hesitant all at the same time. Also very grateful I never became a social worker. Totally gripping and so well written’ Madeleine Black

‘A dark, comic masterpiece which manages to be both excruciatingly tense and laugh out loud funny at the same time. Great stuff!’ Mark Edwards

‘Twisted & utterly contemporary, this is pure, unfiltered noir. From that killer opening line to the dark irony of its final scene. You need to read this’ Russel McLean

‘Worst Case Scenario is a crazy, full-throttle ride, terrifying, hilarious and heartbreaking in equal measure, with the most vivid and brilliant central character I’ve read in years’ Doug Johnstone

‘A seriously fabulous, gritty, and whip-cracking humour filled read … this is short, sharp storytelling at its very best’ Liz Robinson, LoveReading

‘This book really was an emotional rollercoaster’ Macs Book Reviews