The Death Bed by Chris Bridges – An intriguing follow-up
A slow-burn, intriguing novel about secrets, lies, and the lengths you’ll go to in order to keep them.
The Death Bed by Chris Bridges: Key details
- Publish date: 26 February 2026
- Genre: Thriller
- Publisher: Avon
- Available formats: Paperback, audio and ebook
- Series/standalone: Standalone
- Length: 384 pages
Blurb: When nurse Laura arrives at her old best friend’s death bed, it’s not out of compassion – it’s out of fear. Her enigmatic friend Sadie is dying, and with her last breath, she might destroy everything.
Sixteen years ago, tragedy tore their group of nursing students apart. And Laura has spent every moment since then ensuring the truth never sees the light of day.
But as Sadie fades, the past refuses to stay buried. And Laura is about to learn: The dying don’t always go quietly. And some confessions are worth killing for.
The Death Bed by Chris Bridges: The review
I’ve been so looking forward to The Death Bed after loving Chris’ debut novel, Sick to Death, last year. That book was enough to cement Chris as one of my favourite authors, not to mention one of the most genuine, lovely souls. His Instagram is a source of joy, and meeting him at last year’s Harrogate Crime Festival was a real highlight.
The Death Bed is the story of Laura, a nurse, and her close friend Sadie. Split over two timelines, we get the perspective of 1990s Laura, as a student nurse going through her training, and 2010 Laura, when Sadie, after 15 years of being estranged, calls her to her death bed. Dying of cancer, Sadie says she wants Laura to be the one to care for her. But Laura just wants to make sure Sadie doesn’t spill her secrets while she still can…
This is a slow-burn novel which concerns itself with detail and setting just as much as plot. Laurel House, where Sadie lives and Laura stays as a student, is just as much a character as anyone else; it feels like a living, breathing entity. It’s almost as complex as Laura and Sadie, too, both who hold secrets right from the moment we meet them. They are equally mysterious and intriguing, and getting to know more about them will ultimately be what keeps you reading.
Bridges does a fantastic job of teasing his readers, giving just enough away about Laura to keep us hanging on. It’s a payoff that you’ll need to keep reading for, though, and thankfully the beautiful prose will hold your attention. It’s clear Chris has poured a lot of himself in here, from his previous career to his style – it oozes out of the pages. Thankfully, he’s much more likeable than the characters he’s created – but then that is testament to his writing ability.
Neither Laura or Sadie, or any of the sub-characters, are fully likeable, all with questionable traits and blurry morals. You’ll likely be frustrated at each and every one of them at some point during the course of The Death Bed, but that’s the nature of this thriller. It’s Laura’s story, not yours.
If you like layered plots, dark characters and slow-burn intrigue, you’re in for a treat. A solid follow-up from Bridges, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Thank you to Avon Books for providing me with an advanced proof for the purposes of this review.
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