The Trade: A gripping thriller from the dark side of Manchester, new for 2025

Life is tough. Women are tougher. When Gina Turner’s husband, Scott, is sent down for a ten-year stretch, her world falls apart. It’s not just that she misses her husband, but the fact that the Proceeds of Crime team are gunning for all the couple had: her home, her lifestyle, her safety could all be snatched from under her. But she’s not alone. Her friends Lola and Jess have seen their partners get slammed in jail too. Gina has an idea that could save all of them, but it means no more turning a blind eye – instead it’s an eye for an eye… While the women find out if they’ve got what it takes to navigate the Manchester underworld, Scott Turner must face up to the fact his biggest rival has landed in the same jail as him and to survive, both men may need to make a pact. For husband and wife, on the inside and out, it’s time to work out who they can trust – enemies, lovers, friends…or no-one? The narrative is a gripping exploration of the human spirit, as Gina, Lola, and Jess are thrust into a world of legal battles, dysfunctional families, and suspense. As they navigate the murky waters of the Manchester underworld, they must confront their deepest fears and question the very relationships they once took for granted. For fans of Heather Burnside (Vengeance), Alex Kane (Janey), Mandasue Heller (Running Scared), Heather Atkinson (A Savage Betrayal), and Kerry Barnes (Nemesis). HarperCollins 2025