Original Sins by Linda Duncan McLaughlin

Original Sins by Linda Duncan McLaughlin

Published by: Into Books
Format: Paperback Pages: 304
Publication: February 2026 
ISBN: 9781738514984

In a world where blood ties loom like shadows, can one woman escape the legacy of her darkest heritage?

When JOANNE MARSHALL’s adoptive mother passes away, the tenuous threads of her past unravel, drawing her into a haunting quest for truth. With the promise never to delve into her origins now shattered, Joanne embarks on a journey to trace her birth parents, hoping to fill the void of her disconnected existence. But her search unveils a chilling reality: her birth father is not just a man – he is a convicted serial killer.

As she confronts the stark possibility of inheriting his darkness, Joanne finds herself at a crossroads between fear and fascination. Reaching out to the father she never knew, she navigates a complex web of emotions—curiosity, dread, and an unexpected bond that threatens to redefine her sense of self. With every revelation, the lines between love and danger blur, leading her to question the very fabric of her identity.

As Joanne grapples with her lineage, she must confront her own demons—will she embrace the echoes of her past or find the strength to break free from its grip?

Dive into a psychological thriller that will keep your heart racing and your mind questioning until the last page.

REVIEWS

“A cracking psychological thriller of family feuds and shameful secrets, with characters that haunt you long beyond the final chapter. A tremendous debut.”

Jenny Lecoat
New York Times bestselling author
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“Extraordinary that this is a first novel – the sure-footedness of the storytelling, the finesse of the writing, the conviction. But also the ambition and bravery to tell this particular story. Everything literary crime (if that’s what it is – it goes beyond pigeonholing) should be: Human, honest, compelling, real. With her first book McLaughlin shows she is a writer to her fingertips.”

Chris Dolan
Award-winning Author, Poet and Playwright
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“In Linda Duncan McLaughlin’s gripping thriller, family secrets are darker – and deadlier! – than anyone could imagine. Prepare to be haunted long after the last page.”

Lizzie Fry
Novelist and Script Editor
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“What really impresses is the plot and pacing. This is a genuine
thriller, unsettling at times, which builds to a breathless climax.
Original Sins announces a notable new voice to Scottish writing.”

Dr Alistair Braidwood
Honorary Fellow of the Association for Scottish Literature and
Scots Whay Hae Podcaster

Linda Duncan McLaughlin is an award-winning screenwriter, playwright and fiction writer. She writes for BBC Scotland’s flagship drama River City and was nominated for a TV Foundation’s New Voices Award for that work. Her award-winning play Descent toured in 2017, and the early manuscript for Original Sins was shortlisted for the CWA’s Debut Dagger Award and the Grindstone International Novel Prize. Original Sins is her debut novel.

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