Sophie McKenzie
Children's Author
Books
Books
Sophie McKenzie is a fiction writer of both adults and children’s books.
Her first book, the teen thriller GIRL, MISSING was published in 2006 and chosen as one of the first Richard and Judy children’s book club winners. Since then, she has published over thirty children’s novels, four of which have won the annual, national Children’s Book Award. She is currently writing a new teen murder mystery series for Simon & Schuster called MURDER ACADEMY.
Sophie’s first psychological thriller for adult readers, CLOSE MY EYES, came out in 2013 and was selected as a Richard & Judy summer read. It was followed by Sunday Times top ten page-turner TRUST IN MEand four other standalone adult suspense novels. Her next novel, Burn This, publishes in July 2025 through Canelo.
Her books have sold more than one million copies in the UK alone and are translated and sold all over the world. Sophie lives in north London and has worked as a journalist, editor and creative writing tutor.
X - @sophiemckenzie_
Instagram - @sophiemckenziebooks
Forthcoming publications:
THE IMPOSTER will be published by Canelo in April 2026
Nathaniel Carson is dead. His family host a dinner to celebrate what would have been his 79th birthday only to have an unexpected guest arrive.
Mia says she's Nathaniel's daughter. The product of an affair. But not everyone is convinced her claims are genuine. After all, Nathaniel left behind a vast fortune. The kind of money people would do anything for.
The more the Carsons' get to know Mia, the more concerned they become. Can they trust her?
Because every family has its secrets. But this truth might hurt the Carson's more than they expect
A tense psychological thriller full of twists and turns. Perfect for fans of Gillian McAllister and Lisa Jewell.
CAMP MURDER will be published by S&S Children's UK in June 2026
The second book in a brand new murder-mystery school series set at Mayfield Academy.
The water tower stands in darkness . . . I’ve seen its secrets now. I know the truth.
With summer camp ahead this August for Georgia, Wren and Billy, the students of Mayfield Academy are looking forward to kayaking on the lake, trails through the woods and evenings round the fire.
But when someone at camp suffers a fatal accident, Georgia is convinced that there’s more to what happened than meets the eye. As she and her friends investigate, they find themselves drawn to the spooky water tower next to camp – the scene of an unsolved mystery from years ago.
Could there be a connection between this past event and the present-day murder? And is life at summer camp about to turn even more deadly?
Praise for GIRL, MISSING:
'Page-turning' The Independent
'Will have you gripped for hours' Sunday Express
'Please read this book: it is brilliant!; The Guardian
'Whenever I hear the phrase YA thriller I only ever think of one name - and that's Sophie Mckenzie. Why? Because noboody does it better' Phil Earle, award-winning author
'Sophie's thrillers are brilliant... you can't stop reading' Robert Muchamore, bestselling author
'Brilliantly described, scary and touching' The Daily Mirror
10 years of Awards for GIRL, MISSING:
Manchester Children's Book Awards
Bolton Children's Book Award
Soilhill Book Award
Winner of the Sakura Medal
Red House Children's Book Award
Richard and Judy Best Kids' Book
Lewisham Children's Book Award
