The Telling Error

Sophie Hannah Press Reviews

'Given her background as a poet, it's hardly surprising that the language in Sophie Hannah's novels is so precise and elegantly phrased. More noteworthy, perhaps, is her sure grasp of psychology - particularly that of her beleaguered heroines, often thrown into chaos by the effects of crime or a catastrophic misjudgment on their own part ... Hannah's signature character, detective Simon Waterhouse, is on hand to cut the Gordian knot, but the police procedural aspects are less interesting here in comparison to Hannah's adroit manipulation of her carefully delineated cast.' Financial Times

'Like a puppeteer, she navigates her complicated and multi-dimensional characters through a plot that twists and turns like the sneakiest of snakes ... Each of Hannah's characters is incredibly psychologically developed, full of light and shade: a challenge to understand. If you want a tale to keep you on your toes, give your brain a jolt, and cause a series of heart attacks, THE TELLING ERROR is for you. Hannah proves once again that she deserves the accolade of Queen of Crime.' Stylist

'Sophie Hannah keeps coming up with superb new psychological thrillers, and this one has perhaps her best twist and solutions yet' ***** Heat

'The pitfalls of the internet and social media are never far from the surface of this intricately plotted and complex psychological thriller' Choice

'Sophie Hannah's Culver Valley Crime series has now been running for nearly a decade, and there is no discernable dip in her ability to take what's in the pop culture ether and turn it into a truly chilling domestic crime ... She is an exceptional storyteller - this is exactly the sort of crime read can lead to missed tube stops and sleepless nights.' Elle

'It is part crime fiction and part exploration of modern relationships with their uneasy mix of truth, falsehoods, fidelity and cheating, mental and physical. More the latter than former if truth be told, which it rarely is, in Hannah's fiction. There is an admirable, complicated cleverness about her stories which challenge readers without ever chilling them with a scary sense of the dangers abroad in the world. Think Agatha Christie at her best but updated to a time of Twitter and online dating in both its glory and ignominy.' Independent on Sunday

'This crime novel will keep you reading. Hannah tells her story with a good deal of verve and evident enjoyment. You may not believe a word of it, but you are likely to read on because Hannah has the ability to tell a story with conviction.' Scotsman

'Cleverly crafted to fill the reader with paranoia, this is a psychological thriller carried out to absolute perfection - Hannah does creepy like no one else' Essentials

'The rising star of crime fiction' The Times

'Let no one deny the Manchester-born Hannah, who is also a poet, has become one of the finest crime writers of our generation. Her talent for byzantine plots and characters you feel affection for - especially in her fictional Culver Valley force - is now firmly established' Daily Mail

'Hannah takes us to a dark world of grotesque murders, psychological abuse, furtive cyber-sex adventures and pathological liars where, as usual, nothing is as it appears to be' Woman's Way