Preview
  • Below Ground

  • DCI Matilda Darke, Book 11
  • By: Michael Wood
  • Narrated by: Stephanie Beattie
  • Length: 12 hrs and 8 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (16 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Below Ground

By: Michael Wood
Narrated by: Stephanie Beattie
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $26.13

Buy for $26.13

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

‘Matilda Darke is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths

A MISSING DETECTIVE

DCI Matilda Darke has been kidnapped and her nemesis, Steve Harrison appears to be behind it. He’s currently residing in the supermax of Wakefield Prison and spends twenty-three hours a day in his cell, so how could he possibly be responsible?

A SERIAL KILLER WITH A VENGEANCE

As Matilda’s team race to find her, they’re alerted to a body found in an abandoned car on the outskirts of Sheffield. With forensics scouring the woodland for clues, the last thing they expect is for the body count to rise.

A RACE AGAINST TIME

Meanwhile the search intensifies for the DCI when a video of her kidnapping is leaked to the media. And as she desperately tries to uncover what has led to her being held captive in an underground cell, she’s about to find out how much danger she’s truly in.

If Matilda’s team don’t find her soon, they might not find her at all…

©2023 Michael Wood (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers Limited
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Critic reviews

Praise for Michael Wood:

‘A tense, nail-biting story with a truly twisted ending’ Katerina Diamond

“An established master of the serial killer novel takes us on another dangerous journey through the streets of Sheffield. Watch out for those twists – you won't see them coming!” Stephen Booth

‘A gritty and atmospheric thriller with more twists and turns than a hangman's knot. I loved it’ Matt Hilton

‘Solid storytelling and great unravelling of plot. Michael Wood ups the pace as the noose tightens’ Rachel Sargeant

‘Taut, twisting and sharp as a blade, The Hangman’s Hold wrong-footed me at every, devious turn’ Chris Whitaker

'Wood hit the ground running with For Reasons Unknown, first in the DCI Matilda Darke series. In the fourth instalment, The Hangman's Hold, he picks up the pace again with a twisting plot that races to a nail-biting finish’ Chris Simms

‘Bites into you like the rough twine of a hangman’s noose and refuses to let go. Tautly plotted, brilliantly realised, this is further proof that Michael Wood is only going to get better and better. The Hangman’s Hold is going to be big…’ Neil Broadfoot

Praise for Michael Wood:

‘You can count on Michael Wood to deliver a deliciously twisted and intriguing plot, leading to a surprise ending by a likeable and very real protagonist, Matilda Darke’ Yrsa Sigurdardottir

‘She is the perfect heroine’ Elly Griffiths

‘A pitch-black concept, tightly delivered and played at exhilarating pace’ Paul Finch

‘Crackling dialogue, dark wit and an exciting ending. Recommended if you liked Happy Valley’ Mark Edwards

‘DCI Matilda Darke is going places’ James Oswald

‘A compelling, addictive read, it’s hard to put down. I really enjoyed getting to know DCI Matilda Darke. She's strong character with real depth’ Robert Bryndza, bestselling author of THE GIRL IN THE ICE

‘A beautifully written book with a dark heart and a secret that impacts on generations’ Sarah Ward

What listeners say about Below Ground

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    11
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Kept me interested from 1st page to last

The book was compelling with constant action/suspense. If I had one small complaint, it would be that too many of the main characters became the targets/victims of the suspense. Stretched the imagination a bit and I found myself rolling my eyes at times. Otherwise very good and I look forward to the next in the series. Narration was excellent and characters well developed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing as usual

I love the Matilda Darke series and couldn’t wait to get into this one following the cliffhanger ending in the previous novel. The story didn’t disappoint. The characters were great as usual and twists and turns abound. I highly recommend Below Ground as well as the entire series, which I think is best read in order!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

same old same old

Ok, it's book 11 and I think while it is still gripping and thrilling, the drama around Matilda and her team is also very exhausting. The plot is looping; either it's someone close to her or there's a bad apple in the inner circle, I'm exasperating with this kind of twist I almost swear I won't pick the next book....until, yeah the cliff hanger. Damn.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

More Please!

I love this series. Action from the very first second to the very last. Characters are developed so well, you are invested in their individual stories as well as the over arching storyline. Look forward to the next.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent bittersweet addition to the Darke anthology

There is something very special about the way Mr. Wood combines the hearfelt humanity of his characters with the darkest aspects of human nature in the subject matter of his stories. Excellent… can’t wait to see what the next edition has in store… and always impeccable narration by Stephanie Beattie.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Cliff hanger

Suspenseful keeps you on the edge of your seat. But the ending wow leaves you like omg there is more to come.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another winner from Wood and Beattie

I was thrilled to dive back into the world of DCI Matilda Darke with Michael Wood’s latest, “Below Ground” (Book 11). Wood's masterful storytelling and Stephanie Beattie’s expert narration did not disappoint. While I missed Matilda's presence, the author skillfully crafted a gripping narrative that kept me engaged. The twisty plot had me guessing, and the surprise ending left me stunned. With a serial killer on the loose and Matilda’s life hanging in the balance, the race against time to find her is intense. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment, due in October. Wood has once again delivered a gripping and audictive thriller that kept my attention. That ending, wow! Epic, indeed!

👏✍️🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!