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Hello!

Thank you for visiting my website.

I am a Young Adult horror/thriller writer from the North-West of England and my new book, KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE, is out with Penguin Random House in September 2025.

I have a long-standing love affair with all things scary, reading Point Horrors before graduating to Stephen King in my misguided teens. Studying for a degree in Art History and Archaeology meant that I developed a thirst for anything old, beautiful and very often dead. I try to combine this with contemporary settings in my writing to make unique and chilling modern stories.

I lives in my hometown of Manchester with my husband and our rescue dog, Loli, who you will see a lot of on TikTok and Instagram @CynthiaMurphyYA

You can browse my books here.

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As a full-time writer, most days I look like a bog troll, but sometimes I manage to get dressed up and drink champagne. I was beyond delighted to be a part of the @penguinukbooks 90th birthday celebrations last night and to hang out with some gorgeous people. Proud little 🐧 (swipe for outtakes😅)

When writing the book nearly breaks you but you love her anyway…
#KeepYourFriendsClose #WinLoseKillDie

I love this trend!
Celebrating KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE hitting the UK and Irish shelves 3 months today!
#MeetTheAuthor #KeepYourFriendsClose

So excited to be out and about this summer!

I’ll be talking about SIGNED SEALED DEAD and the upcoming KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE and I’m ready to sign all your books!

Where will I see you?

Screamed when I opened this! Thank you to @penguinplatform and @house.of.ya for the best PR package for #KeepYourFriendsClose 💙

Come and join me at @nyalitfest on July 19th! I love this festival in the North West - my home turf 🥰 I’ll be chatting to @yaundermyskin, @ravenaguron and @avaeldredwriter.

There’s a whole day of panels for THREE ENGLISH POUNDS. There are so many authors attending and you’ll get a chance to meet them all and get your books signed. Ticket link in my bio!

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE is out in 3 months so it’s time to share some blurbs from your (my) favourite authors! (Scroll down for the KYFC blurb and check out my bio for pre-order links…)

Back in 2016 I bought the Zoella YA book club selection from WH Smith to share with my niece and I discovered Sue Wallman (check out my OG copy). I was immediately hooked on her twisty thrillers and almost ten years later she provides me with wonderful blurbs and excellent gossip when I see her in person. Thank you for always being so supportive and generous, @suewallman 🥰

Chloe Roberts is on top of the world at Morton Academy. She’s a shoo-in for Head Girl and the lead spot in the school’s secret society: Jewel and Bone. But then her best friend, Nikhita Patel, betrays her, and life comes crashing down.

Things take a darker turn when Chloe stumbles upon the Book of Crime and Punishment – a record of every misdeed committed by Morton students and the fitting penalty. And it’s not long before entries in the book start to match up with murders of Jewel and Bone members. Anyone could be a suspect.

Can Chloe get to the bottom of this twisted game before she’s next on the killer’s hit list . . . ?

CLOSED AND WINNER NOTIFIED
🚨WIN A PROOF COPY🚨
I’m going to give away ONE every month on the lead up to publication…that’s FOUR in total.
Want one?
Let’s start with something easy…
1. Follow me on Instagram.
2. Tag a friend who would love a copy too.
3. Share to your story.
Easy!
Closes at 11.59pm GMT on Saturday 31st May 2025. International postage okay and I will tag the winner in my stories on Sunday 1st June. (Only Instagram entries will be valid.)
Good luck!

Thrilled to be joining @laurenwauthor on her tour for THE GOLDENS at @waterstonesliverpool in July!
I’ll be talking all about SIGNED SEALED DEAD (I haven’t done many events for this book so I’m excited!) and I will sign as many books as you can buy/carry PLUS I’ll have KYFC postcards to hand out (and maybe a proof???)
Ticket link in my bio!

Thank you SO MUCH to @summerhill.library for my gorgeous trophy! I�’m so pleased that SIGNED SEALED DEAD was chosen for this award, it’s always extra special when teen readers choose my books 🥰 #dudleychildrensbookaward

Did you read any of these books growing up?

I devoured Point Horror, Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew and Christopher Pike books and they had such a huge impact on what I write now! I started collecting them again when LAST ONE TO DIE was published, but a couple are my originals…swipe to the last slide to see!

(Fun facts: THE ROOMMATE helped inspire WIN LOSE KILL DIE and KIDNAPPED BY THE CULT and THE CLUE OF THE BLACK KEYS both feature in KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE.)

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE is out in 4 months so it’s time to share some blurbs from your (my) favourite authors! (Scroll down for the KYFC blurb and check out my bio for pre-order links…)

Kat Ellis is a writer I admired for years before following her onto a retreat and forcing her to be friends with me. She was the first industry person to read the start of my debut and she has a brilliant new book, THE DEVOURING LIGHT, out this September.

Kathryn Foxfield was my first publisher sibling and we have bonded over being weird and drinking warm white wine ever since. She has some exciting things up her sleeve that I can’t wait to shout about!

Thank you @katelliswrites and @kathrynfoxfield for your fab blurbs 🥰

Chloe Roberts is on top of the world at Morton Academy. She’s a shoo-in for Head Girl and the lead spot in the school’s secret society: Jewel and Bone. But then her best friend, Nikhita Patel, betrays her, and life comes crashing down.

Things take a darker turn when Chloe stumbles upon the Book of Crime and Punishment – a record of every misdeed committed by Morton students and the fitting penalty. And it’s not long before entries in the book start to match up with murders of Jewel and Bone members. Anyone could be a suspect.

Can Chloe get to the bottom of this twisted game before she’s next on the killer’s hit list . . . ?

🇺🇸 25% off pre-orders at @barnesandnoble 🇺🇸
Pre-orders really help with those first week sales, so if you were thinking of getting a copy, this is a great time to do it! Use code PREORDER25
(Order between 23-25th April, #KeepYourFriendsClose out September 2nd with @delacortepress)

Such a lovely night celebrating CAPTAIN OF FATES with @kwebberwanders and @farshorebooks at @waterstonesmcr @waterstonesmcrkids 🌊⚓️🧜‍♀️

Procrastination is all part of the process, right?

I have a problem (a shiny one) #TheMidnightGame

Have you discovered #bedazzledbooks yet?!

I spent the start of April filming bits and pieces for my publishers with these gorgeous US arcs as props - I mean, how gorgeous?! I was also sent some photos of the cover of KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE looking STUNNING on the @penguinrandomhouse stand at the Bologna Book Fair, which is just actual author goals. Isn’t she beautiful?! 😍

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE is out in 5 months so it’s time to share some blurbs from your (my) favourite authors! (Scroll down for the KYFC blurb and check out my bio for pre-order links…)

Amy Goldsmith is a fellow @delacortepress author who writes creepy, twisted books that I enjoy IMMENSELY. I can’t wait for her next release and am over the moon that she enjoyed KYFC. Thanks @amygoldsmith_writes 🥰

Chloe Roberts is on top of the world at Morton Academy. She’s a shoo-in for Head Girl and the lead spot in the school’s secret society: Jewel and Bone. But then her best friend, Nikhita Patel, betrays her, and life comes crashing down.

Things take a darker turn when Chloe stumbles upon the Book of Crime and Punishment – a record of every misdeed committed by Morton students and the fitting penalty. And it’s not long before entries in the book start to match up with murders of Jewel and Bone members. Anyone could be a suspect.

Can Chloe get to the bottom of this twisted game before she’s next on the killer’s hit list . . . ?

Watch as I describe my books in one minute and also forget all about every one of them…
(Yes I know this isn’t TikTok but I’m lazy, ok?)

When your US arcs arrive and they’re 🔥
Have you preordered yet? Link in my bio..
#KeepYourFriendsClose

🇦🇺G’day mates!🇦🇺
These gorgeous Australian editions of WLKD just popped through my letterbox. It’s just been published over there, 3 whole years after its UK release. Aussie friends, I hope you love Liz & co as much as I love the hoodie I had made when it came out (swipe to see me wearing it this week! Yes, it’s battered but still cosy…)

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE is out in 6 months so it’s time to share some blurbs from your (my) favourite authors! (Scroll down for the KYFC blurb…)
I’ve been a Queen Karen fan since OOUIL and since I forced her be my friend I’ve been delighted to find she is supportive, generous and gives the BEST cover quotes! Thank you Karen 🥰

Chloe Roberts is on top of the world at Morton Academy. She’s a shoo-in for Head Girl and the lead spot in the school’s secret society: Jewel and Bone. But then her best friend, Nikhita Patel, betrays her, and life comes crashing down.

Things take a darker turn when Chloe stumbles upon the Book of Crime and Punishment – a record of every misdeed committed by Morton students and the fitting penalty. And it’s not long before entries in the book start to match up with murders of Jewel and Bone members. Anyone could be a suspect.

Can Chloe get to the bottom of this twisted game before she’s next on the killer’s hit list . . . ?

Delighted that I’ve been shortlisted for Lancashire Book of the Year again! I have a pretty good record for the last three years…swipe for last year’s acceptance speech! 🏆 See you all in July!

I had an absolute blast chairing this event last night! Thank you @hojay92, @electricmonkeybooks and @waterstones for trusting me to conversation wrangle, it was fab!

☠️Welcome back to Morton💎

I’m so excited to share the cover of KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE - isn’t she stunning?! Thank you to @gorjessdesign for kick-starting my new cover era and to the legend that is @writerkmc for another generous quote.

Get ready for more twisted lies, betrayals, and a not-so-secret society that everyone loves to hate. If Regina George was a Jewel, this is probably how it would end…

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE will be available this September, everywhere books are sold in the US (2nd) and the UK (11th). Pre-order today through the links in my bio and check out @getunderlined and @penguinplatform for more during the months ahead…

#keepyourfriendsclose #mortonacademy #winlosekilldie

Happy Valentines Day ❤️🐾 See you on Monday 👀💎💀

Writing can be a rollercoaster and right now I feel like I’m on a slow climb - I got so used to having one or even two books out a year that I’ve found it tricky to navigate a new timeline. Then I look at this shelf on my desk and pinch myself - I’ve achieved so much since January 2021 and there’s so much more to come. If you’re in a lull, keep going, that wild ride is only getting started. (Brownie points if you can name the iconic movie scene this song plays in 🥵.)

KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE has all the 90s dark academia vibes you could ever want…have you added it to your Goodreads TBR yet?

I’m so excited that @waterstones have asked me to chair this event! I’ll be talking to @hojay92 about murder…er, to celebrate the release of THE REAPPEARANCE OF RACHEL PRICE paperback at the end of February. Come and join us, link in my bio!

A quick jaunt down to London and @penguinukbooks to sign the last batch of these proofs and talk about KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE. We might have even discussed a cover reveal…

WELCOME TO CAMP KILLER, my dyslexia friendly book with @unionsqandco, is out in Canada and the US today 😍 Swipe to see the blurb and to learn more about the EVERYONE CAN BE A READER book collection! Order links in my bio…

When an American-style residential camp is set up in the grounds of an English stately home, the teenage instructors are looking forward to a summer of fun activities. But right from the start, things don’t feel quite right at Camp Miller.

There are rumours of a tragedy that took place in the grounds and unexplained sightings of a ghostly presence. Then the incidents begin—a near-drowning out on the lake, a fatal fall from a cliff-face . . . Are these tragic accidents or is there something more sinister going on at Camp Killer . . . ?

Union Square & Co.’s EVERYONE CAN BE A READER books are expertly written, thoughtfully designed with dyslexia-friendly fonts and paper tones, and carefully formatted to meet readers where they are with engaging stories that encourage reading success across a wide range of age and interest levels.

📬EVENT NEWS📬
I’m so excited to be going back to @waterstonesstneots in February to talk about #SignedSealedDead! Join me with @itsbusayo_xo and @ravenaguron as we talk all things murder…I might even give away a proof copy of #KeepYourFriendsClose 👀 Booking link in my bio!

3 years ago, on my 38th birthday, #WinLoseKillDie was released. It’s the book that changed my life and it has sold over 50,000 copies across the US and UK since. If you’ve bought one of those, thank you ❤️
(I love this photo - it was taken at my first launch party by my friend Emma as I signed a copy of WLKD for her daughter. Emma passed away in 2024, as I was writing KYFC. The American version of SSD is partly dedicated to her ❤️)

Happy New Year! Do you have any goals for 2025?

We started the year warm, cozy & comfortable, and I can’t ask for much more. A snow day was a lovely way to end the holidays and my computer beckons tomorrow…

I can now say #KeepYourFriendsClose officially comes out this year! I’m looking forward to cover reveals, events and writing another book. I’ve set some goals too - I’d like to read more and learn some new skills (one for a future book, one for fun). Tell me your goals - I’m all ears!

I hibernated A LOT in 2024, but looking back I achieved so much even though it didn’t always feel like it. Some highlights included:

⭐️Releasing SIGNED SEALED DEAD (and seeing it in an airport for the first time), writing KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE and signing with Penguin UK.

⭐️Winning LANCASHIRE BOOK OF THE YEAR for the third time running and celebrating a secret thing that I can’t tell you about yet…

⭐️Having my backlist published in Canada and the US and getting to go and see them in person, do some signings and visit my team at Delacorte Press on Broadway.

⭐️Chairing some amazing events for the first time (thank you to those authors for trusting me!) and going on my first ever tour, which I’m still gushing about 🥰 I also got to talk at Cheltenham for the first time which was amazing!

⭐️SSD being named a book of the year at @waterstones @eason_ireland and @indigo as well as being featured in Irish tv with @kidsbooksirel - thank you!

⭐️Announcing my US and UK deals, handing out proofs of KYFC and getting a renewed sense of excitement for my next book (come back next year for that one…)

Thank you to everyone who has bought, read, reviewed or tagged my books. None of this would happen without you ❤️❤️❤️

2025, I’m ready!

2024 was the year I revealed my secrets (not all of them though … see you in 2025😈)

I’ve just been on the radio talking to @lisa.marrey about how brilliant YA is. Here are the books I mentioned that would make great Christmas gifts (and a couple more that I love but I didn’t quite have time for.) Thanks for having me @bbcmerseyside 📚

Writing tips with moi via @house.of.ya 🥰 #KeepYourFriendsClose

❄️🩸That’s a pretty festive stack🩸❄️

If you’re looking for Christmas gifts for reluctant readers, try these. Links in my bio for all of these UK versions - and KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE is available for preorder now!

#WinLoseKillDie debuted in the US and Canada one year ago today and I started leaving hints about #KeepYourFriendsClose on TikTok…did you spot any of them? 👀
Pictured: me on the floor trying to get Loli in shot. She was not one bit bothered. Second pic is my calendar and Morton pennant which features in one of the TikTok videos…

☠️House of YA Thriller (Dream) Tour Part Two: When the Delirium Kicked In ☠️
Brunch at @the_ivy_collection followed by wonderful events in Nottingham, Oswestry and Edinburgh. Thank you all for braving the snow and giving me a week I will cherish forever! Thank you also to @house.of.ya for organising and @authorjenlynnbarnes and @writerkmc for being generous, gracious and great travel companions ♥️

Thats a wrap on the @House of YA thriller tour with @writerkmc and @authorjenlynnbarnes, sponsored by this song, Paul Mescal, The Vampire Diaries and Taylor Swift. WHAT A WEEK 🥰
#KeepYourFriendsClose #booktok #karenmmcmanus #jenniferlynnbarnes #gamesuntold #suchcharmingliars

☠️💎Thriller (Dream) Tour: Part One💎☠️

I’m having the best time hanging out with @writerkmc and @authorjenlynnbarnes - our events at @piccadillywaterstones @waterstonesbristol and @yalc_uk, have been amazing!

Thank you all for being SO GORGEOUS and so excited when you find an early copy of KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE! It’s crazy to actually place proofs into readers hands. There are 75 more copies up for grabs at the next three stops…

Nottingham @waterstonesnotts ➡️ Oswestry @bookabookshop ➡️ Edinburgh @toppingsedin, we’re coming for you!

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@cynthiamurphyya

‘Bold, thrilling, and wickedly addictive.

Keep Your Friends Close will be your next obsession.’

Hello!

Get in touch...

‘Bold, thrilling, and wickedly addictive.

Keep Your Friends Close will be your next obsession.’

​

Hello!

Get in touch...

​

​