Goodnight, My Angel (2003) by Margaret Murphy is a gritty British psychological thriller that plunges readers into a harrowing investigation of child abduction and maternal desperation. The novel follows DI Jeff Rickman, a seasoned but emotionally scarced detective, as he races to find seven-year-old Chloe Meadows, snatched from her bedroom in the middle of the night. The case takes a sinister turn when Chloe’s mother, Helen, begins receiving taunting phone calls laced with eerie lullabies—echoes of a similar unsolved case from Rickman’s past.
Murphy, a former forensic scientist, lends authentic procedural detail to the hunt, while delving into the psychology of grief and obsession. The narrative’s tension spikes as Rickman uncovers dark family secrets and a suspect list that includes Helen’s estranged husband and a mysterious local handyman.
With its relentless pace and emotional heft, Goodnight, My Angel is a standout in UK crime fiction, perfect for fans of Val McDermid’s The Mermaids Singing or Sophie Hannah’s Little Face.
