[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Are%20there%20any%20other%20books%20by%20Mark%20Edward%20that%20have%20dual%20timelines%20and%20are%20multiple%20POVs%20like%20the%20Wasp%20Trap%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "I couldn\u2019t find confirmation of another Mark Edwards book that matches *The Wasp Trap* exactly in terms of dual timelines *and* multiple POVs. But I did find two novels by him that *are close* \u2014 they both use dual timelines and shift perspectives. Here are the details, plus a comparison to where they align or differ from *The Wasp Trap*.\n\n---\n\n## Notable Examples by Mark Edwards\n\n### The Darkest Water\n\n- This is one of the closest matches. It has multiple POVs (at least two: Calvin and DI Imogen Evans) and alternates between the present day and a past timeline (specifically 1995) that reveals Calvin\u2019s backstory. ([goodreads.com](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/193334824-the-darkest-water?utm_source=openai))  \n- Many reviews note that the past timeline connects directly to secrets that are central in the present. ([lotuswritingtherapy.com](https://lotuswritingtherapy.com/2025/07/31/the-darkest-water-by-mark-edwards/?utm_source=openai))  \n- On the downside: the past timeline is mainly to give background rather than full parallel arcs. It\u2019s not as complex or balanced a narrative as *The Wasp Trap* (if *The Wasp Trap* gives equal weight to its timelines or has multiple characters featured in both timelines with overlapping arcs).\n\n---\n\n### No Place To Run\n\n- This novel shifts POVs between different characters \u2014 siblings of missing persons, local authorities, etc. ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mark-edwards/no-place-to-run/?utm_source=openai))  \n- While it doesn\u2019t explicitly say there are full dual timelines stretching back many years, the structure involves flashbacks and the search for what happened in the past (Scarlett\u2019s disappearance, etc.). ([kirkusreviews.com](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mark-edwards/no-place-to-run/?utm_source=openai))  \n- So it shares some of the elements like mystery, intertwining past and present, and shifting perspectives \u2014 though it may not be quite the same level of formal dual timeline structure.\n\n---\n\n## Comparison: How These Stack Up vs *The Wasp Trap*\n\nHere\u2019s how each feature compares:\n\n| Feature | The Wasp Trap (baseline) | The Darkest Water | No Place To Run |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| Dual Timelines (present & past equally) | Yes | Yes \u2014 past timeline ~1995 gives backstory | Partial \u2014 past through disappearance, but not full parallel timeline arcs |\n| Multiple POVs | Yes | Yes \u2014 at least two | Yes \u2014 multiple characters\u2019 viewpoints |\n| Balanced story arcs in each timeline / POV | Likely yes | Some imbalance (past less present) | More tilted to present mystery |\n| Mystery + suspense core | \u2713 | \u2713 | \u2713 |\n\n---\n\n## Verdict\n\nIf you liked *The Wasp Trap* for its dual timelines + multiple POVs, **The Darkest Water** is your best bet among Mark Edwards\u2019 novels. It comes very close, using both past & present timelines and switching viewpoints, with suspense carried through both. *No Place To Run* is also worth considering if you're okay with something a bit less formally balanced but still rich in shifting perspectives.\n\nIf you want, I can dig deeper (including contacting fan forums or reading blurbs) to see if there *is* a novel by him that *exactly* replicates the structure of *The Wasp Trap*. Would you prefer that?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "which%20books%20of%20his%20feature%20DI%20Imogen%20Evans)"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here are the books by Mark Edwards that feature **DI Imogen Evans**:\n\n---\n\n## Books with DI Imogen Evans\n\n1. **The Lucky Ones** (2017)  \n   This is the book where Imogen Evans is introduced. She investigates a series of murders in Shropshire committed by a serial killer who targets people at their happiest moments. ([goodreads.com](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33833390-the-lucky-ones?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **The Darkest Water** (2024)  \n   This is a follow-up to *The Lucky Ones*. It also features DI Imogen Evans, now investigating a case in the Lake District involving a body buried up to his neck on a beach, while a social media stalker storyline runs in parallel. ([goodreads.com](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/193374486-the-darkest-water?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\nIf you want, I can also check whether there are more upcoming books with DI Imogen Evans, or smaller works like novellas or short stories that include her."
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "Are%20there%20any%20other%20books%20by%20Mark%20Edwards%20that%20feature%20recurring%20characters%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Yes \u2014 Mark Edwards has several books with recurring characters or shared universes. Here are the main ones, along with details on how they connect:\n\n---\n\n## Sets & Recurring Characters\n\n### 1. **DI Patrick Lennon** (with Louise Voss)\n- This is a detective series. The main character is **DI Patrick Lennon**. ([everand.com](https://www.everand.com/series/688987172/A-Detective-Lennon-Thriller?utm_source=openai))  \n- Books in this series:\n   1. *From the Cradle* (2014) ([thriftbooks.com](https://www.thriftbooks.com/series/detective-patrick-lennon/105271/?utm_source=openai))  \n   2. *The Blissfully Dead* (2015) ([fictiondb.com](https://www.fictiondb.com/series/detective-inspector-patrick-lennon-mark-edwards-louise-voss~38407.htm?utm_source=openai))  \n   3. There\u2019s also a short work *One Shot* listed as \u201cDI Patrick Lennon #2.5\u201d ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Edwards_%28British_writer%29?utm_source=openai))  \n\n### 2. **Kate Maddox** (co-authored with Louise Voss)\n- A smaller series featuring a recurring character, **Kate Maddox**. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Edwards_%28British_writer%29?utm_source=openai))  \n- Books:\n   - *Catch Your Death* (2012) ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Edwards_%28British_writer%29?utm_source=openai))  \n   - *All Fall Down* (2012) ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Edwards_%28British_writer%29?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Shared/Returning Characters & Universes Outside Full Series\n\n### 3. **Magpies Universe**\n- *The Magpies* (2013) is the debut of Edwards\u2019 solo work. It introduces characters like Jamie Knight, Kirsty, Lucy Newton, and others. ([fantasticfiction.com](https://www.fantasticfiction.com/e/mark-edwards/?utm_source=openai))  \n- *A Murder of Magpies* (2018) is a novella sequel set in the same universe, revisiting these characters\u2014particularly Jamie and Lucy. ([goodreads.com](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48571969?utm_source=openai))  \n- Also, *The Psychopath Next Door* (releasing January 2025) is said to be \u201cset in The Magpies universe, with at least one returning character from that series.\u201d ([markedwardsauthor.com](https://www.markedwardsauthor.com/the-psychopath-next-door-is-moving-in-soon/?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can check whether there are subtle character crossovers between his generally standalone works too (like cameos or minor returns). Would you be interested in that?"
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "yes%20please."
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s what I found on crossovers, cameos, and recurring characters in Mark Edwards\u2019 books beyond his obvious series characters:\n\n---\n\n## Known Shared Universe: *The Magpies*\n\n- **The Psychopath Next Door** (2025) is confirmed to be set in *The Magpies* universe. It includes *at least one returning character* from *The Magpies* series, though it also works as a standalone novel. ([markedwardsauthor.com](https://www.markedwardsauthor.com/the-psychopath-next-door-is-moving-in-soon/?utm_source=openai))  \n- One review points out that Fiona (from *The Psychopath Next Door*) was \u201ca friend of Lucy [Newton] \u2014 anyone who's read *The Magpies* series will know who Lucy is.\u201d That\u2019s a direct link between the characters. ([goodreads.com](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213725649-the-psychopath-next-door?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Recurring Theme vs Full Character Returns\n\nSo far, the *Magpies* universe is the only clearly established setting where characters crossover:\n\n- **Lucy Newton** (antagonist of *The Magpies*) appears or is referenced in *The Psychopath Next Door*. ([goodreads.com](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213725649-the-psychopath-next-door?utm_source=openai))  \n- **Jamie Knight** and **Kirsty** (from *The Magpies*) feature through full-length work and novellas in that series. ([goodreads.com](https://www.goodreads.com/series/232301-the-magpies?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## No Known Crossovers Outside *The Magpies* Universe\n\nI didn\u2019t find solid evidence that:\n\n- DI Imogen Evans or characters from the *DI Imogen Evans* books (*The Lucky Ones* and *The Darkest Water*) cross into non-Imogen books.\n- Kate Maddox, DI Patrick Lennon, or characters from those co-authored series appear elsewhere in Edwards\u2019 solo books or in other co-works.\n- Characters from *The Magpies* appear elsewhere besides *The Psychopath Next Door* in terms of shared universe stories.\n\n---\n\nIf you like, I can try digging into author interviews or lesser-known short stories to see if any more hidden crossovers exist."
    }
]