New Shotley Bridge Thriller: Shotley Bridge Revenge released this week

North-East crime writer Bobby Cussens has released Shotley Bridge Revenge, a gripping new crime thriller set entirely in the historic village of Shotley Bridge, County Durham.

The second novel in the Shotley Bridge Thrillers series deepens the connection between the books and the real village community, drawing readers into a tense murder mystery rooted in familiar streets, landmarks, and local life.

When the murder of a young nanny shocks the village, DC Heather Hudson is called to investigate. As fear spreads through Shotley Bridge, the case becomes personal: the killer’s actions threaten Heather’s own children, forcing her to confront the dangers as her carer and home life merge.

Written under the pen name Bobby Cussens, local author Julie Wilson describes the challenge of writing her second novel as “the scariest thing I’ve ever done – like a second album, you don’t know if the audience will come with you.” Her fears were unfounded — Shotley Bridge Revenge entered Amazon UK’s Top 100 Crime Series in its first week.

To celebrate the book’s release and strengthen ties with the community, Wilson has expanded the novel’s interaction by creating a Trail Game, using an app designed for primary-school-aged children to explore Shotley Bridge’s landmarks and hidden corners. She will also host a series of murder mystery events in the village’s popular pub — a real location featured in both novels — bringing the fictional world of DC Heather Hudson directly into the heart of the community.

“Putting fictional murders into the village I love might seem strange, but the emotions, our struggles are all the same, whether in a book or out of it. I’m just honoured to have the support of the people who live here,” Wilson says.

Set against the dramatic winter weather of the Derwent Valley, the moorlands, and the surrounding commons, Shotley Bridge Revenge blends North-East humour, local dialect, and regional character with the tension of a modern psychological thriller. The story explores loyalty, betrayal, justice, and revenge — themes that resonate strongly with readers who enjoy Cussens’s gritty writing style which has drawn comparisons to Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves, two of the North-East’s most celebrated crime authors. 

With multiple twists and a chilling epilogue, Shotley Bridge Revenge is ideal for readers who enjoy regional crime fiction, village-based mysteries, and North-East detective stories.

As the second book in a planned five-part series, Shotley Bridge Revenge expands the fictional world of Shotley Bridge and introduces a cast of complex characters who linger long after the final page. The novel strengthens Cussens’s position as a rising voice in County Durham crime writing and North-East storytelling.

Shotley Bridge Revenge by Bobby Cussens is available now in paperback and e-book.