Helen Matthews

Helen Matthews writes page-turning psychological suspense novels and is fascinated by the darker side of human nature and how a life can change in an instant. Her novel The Girl in the Van, published by Darkstroke Books, won the suspense and thriller genre in the 2022 Pageturner Awards. Other novels include suspense thriller Girl Out of Sight, which won first prize in the opening pages category at Winchester Writers’ Festival, and Lies Behind the Ruin, domestic noir set in France.. Her third novel Façade was published by Darkstroke Books in 2020.

Born in Cardiff, Helen read English at the University of Liverpool and worked in international development, consultancy, human resources and pensions management. She fled corporate life to work freelance while studying for a Creative Writing MA at Oxford Brookes University. Her stories and flash fiction have been shortlisted and published by Flash 500, 1000K Story, Reflex Press, Artificium and Love Sunday magazine.

She is a keen cyclist, covering long distances if there aren’t any hills, sings in a choir and once appeared on stage at Carnegie Hall, New York in a multi-choir performance. She loves spending time in France. Helen is an Ambassador for the charity, Unseen, which works towards a world without slavery and donates her author talk fees, and a percentage of royalties, to the charity.

Award Category
Screenplay Award Category
A tormented mother. An abandoned child. A deadly game of survival.
This submission is private and only visible to judges.

Comments

Helen Matthews Thu, 31/03/2022 - 20:30

The cover image has loaded now and I've written text for screenreaders.

The novel has just been published. Date of publication 17/3/22.

Kelly Boyer Sagert Sun, 04/09/2022 - 21:40

From the start, we know something big is about to happen--and you follow through well. Then, the seamless flashback adds even more suspense. Well done!

Cover shows a lone campervan with the lights on inside against a dark night and menacing night sky.