The Midnight King (Hardback)

Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize

Tariq Ashkanani

From the author of Welcome to Cooper comes a dark thriller about family, trauma and the secrets we hide within

* SHORTLISTED FOR THE MCILVANNEY PRIZE FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR *

'Reminiscent of Mo Hayder at her darkest' - OBSERVER

'A tour de force with superb dramamtic twists' - DAILY MAIL
'The best book I've read all year' - SARAH PINBOROUGH

'
This is a work of fiction. This is not a confession.'

Lucas Cole is a bestselling writer. He is also a father, a widower, and a beloved celebrity in his small town. He is an unassuming man ­- tall, thin and quietly friendly. Lucas Cole is also a serial killer.

Nathan Cole has known the truth about his father since he was ten years old. Too terrified to go to the police, he ran away from home as soon as he was able, carrying the guilt of leaving his sister behind. But when Lucas is found dead in a dingy motel room, Nathan returns to his childhood home for the first time in seventeen years. It's there he finds The Midnight King, his father's final unpublished manuscript, a fictionalised account of his hideous crimes, hidden in a box of trinkets taken from his victims. Trinkets that include a ribbon belonging to a missing eight-year-old girl who disappeared only days before his father's death.

Now, Nathan must deal with the consequences of keeping his father's secret. But it may not be as simple as finding a lost child. For The Midnight King holds Nathan's secrets as well as Lucas's, and he is not the only one searching for the truth...

Full of unexpected twists and heartrending turns, The Midnight King is a gripping thriller perfect for fans of Chris Whitaker, S.A. Cosby and Ian Rankin.

'If you're a fan of Thomas Harris you must read this' - PRIMA
'Lean, taut, gripping and bloody' - CHRIS BROOKMYRE
'The best book I've read about a serial killer since Red Dragon' - GARETH BROWN

Publication date: 10/04/2025

£16.99

ISBN: 9781805222279

Imprint: Viper

Subject: Crime

The Midnight King (Ebook)

Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize

Tariq Ashkanani

Buy from

From the author of Welcome to Cooper comes a dark thriller about family, trauma and the secrets we hide within

* SHORTLISTED FOR THE MCILVANNEY PRIZE FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR *

'Reminiscent of Mo Hayder at her darkest' - OBSERVER

'A tour de force with superb dramamtic twists' - DAILY MAIL
'The best book I've read all year' - SARAH PINBOROUGH

'
This is a work of fiction. This is not a confession.'

Lucas Cole is a bestselling writer. He is also a father, a widower, and a beloved celebrity in his small town. He is an unassuming man ­- tall, thin and quietly friendly. Lucas Cole is also a serial killer.

Nathan Cole has known the truth about his father since he was ten years old. Too terrified to go to the police, he ran away from home as soon as he was able, carrying the guilt of leaving his sister behind. But when Lucas is found dead in a dingy motel room, Nathan returns to his childhood home for the first time in seventeen years. It's there he finds The Midnight King, his father's final unpublished manuscript, a fictionalised account of his hideous crimes, hidden in a box of trinkets taken from his victims. Trinkets that include a ribbon belonging to a missing eight-year-old girl who disappeared only days before his father's death.

Now, Nathan must deal with the consequences of keeping his father's secret. But it may not be as simple as finding a lost child. For The Midnight King holds Nathan's secrets as well as Lucas's, and he is not the only one searching for the truth...

Full of unexpected twists and heartrending turns, The Midnight King is a gripping thriller perfect for fans of Chris Whitaker, S.A. Cosby and Ian Rankin.

'If you're a fan of Thomas Harris you must read this' - PRIMA
'Lean, taut, gripping and bloody' - CHRIS BROOKMYRE
'The best book I've read about a serial killer since Red Dragon' - GARETH BROWN

Publication date: 10/04/2025

£13.99

ISBN: 9781805222293

Imprint: Viper

Subject: Crime

The Midnight King (Audiobook)

Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize

Tariq Ashkanani

Buy from

From the author of Welcome to Cooper comes a dark thriller about family, trauma and the secrets we hide within

'A sure-fire shocker. This book will not let you go without a fight' – JANICE HALLETT
'The best book I've read about a serial killer since Red Dragon' – GARETH BROWN

'
This is a work of fiction. This is not a confession.'

Lucas Cole is a bestselling writer. He is also a father, a widower, and a beloved celebrity in his small town. He is an unassuming man ­- tall, thin and quietly friendly. Lucas Cole is also a serial killer.

Nathan Cole has known the truth about his father since he was ten years old. Too terrified to go to the police, he ran away from home as soon as he was able, carrying the guilt of leaving his sister behind. But when Lucas is found dead in a dingy motel room, Nathan returns to his childhood home for the first time in seventeen years. It's there he finds The Midnight King, his father's final unpublished manuscript, a fictionalised account of his hideous crimes, hidden in a box of trinkets taken from his victims. Trinkets that include a ribbon belonging to a missing eight-year-old girl who disappeared only days before his father's death.

Now, Nathan must deal with the consequences of keeping his father's secret. But it may not be as simple as finding a lost child. For The Midnight King holds Nathan's secrets as well as Lucas's, and he is not the only one searching for the truth…

Full of unexpected twists and heartrending turns, The Midnight King is a gripping thriller perfect for fans of Chris Whitaker, S.A. Cosby and Ian Rankin.

Publication date: 10/04/2025

£24.99

ISBN: 9781805225089

Imprint: Viper

Subject: Crime

Read by: Nathan Osgood

The Midnight King (Paperback)

Shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize

Tariq Ashkanani

From the award-winning author of Welcome to Cooper comes a dark thriller about family, trauma and the secrets we hide within

* SHORTLISTED FOR THE MCILVANNEY PRIZE FOR SCOTTISH CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR *

'A tour de force with superb dramatic twists' - DAILY MAIL
'If you're a fan of Thomas Harris you must read this' - PRIMA

'The best book I've read all year' - SARAH PINBOROUGH

'This is a work of fiction. This is not a confession.'

Lucas Cole is a bestselling writer, a quiet, unassuming man and a beloved celebrity in his small town. Lucas Cole is also a serial killer.

Nathan Cole has always known the truth about his father. But it isn't until Lucas is found dead that Nathan discovers The Midnight King, his father's fictionalised account of his hideous crimes, hidden in a box of trinkets taken from his victims. Trinkets that include a ribbon belonging to a missing girl who disappeared only days before Lucas's death.

Now, Nathan must deal with the consequences of keeping his father's secret. But The Midnight King holds Nathan's secrets as well as Lucas's, and he is not the only one searching for the truth...

Full of unexpected twists and heartrending turns, The Midnight King is a gripping thriller perfect for fans of Chris Whitaker, S.A. Cosby and Ian Rankin.

Publication date: 15/01/2026

£9.99

ISBN: 9781805222309

Imprint: Viper

Subject: Crime

Tariq Ashkanani

Tariq Ashkanani

Tariq Ashkanani is a solicitor and co-host of the writing podcast Page One. His debut novel, Welcome to Cooper, won the Bloody Scotland Debut Award 2022, as well as being shortlisted for both the CWA John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger and Capital Crime Fingerprint Award. His second novel, Follow Me to the Edge, was published in 2022. His upcoming novel, The Midnight King, will be published by Viper in 2025. He lives in Edinburgh with his wife and two sons.

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