Andrew Harwood’s debut thriller Cold Ground launches November 5

British author Andrew Harwood is releasing Cold Ground on November 5, 2026, as the first book in The Thompson-Newman Files. The transatlantic thriller follows a Denver homicide case that exposes a husband’s hidden past and a wider intelligence conspiracy.

Why it matters: - Cold Ground opens a new thriller series built around a marriage tested by secrets, giving the debut novel a personal hook inside a larger espionage plot. - The book blends police procedure with international intelligence intrigue across Denver, London and The Hague. - The release date lands on Britain’s Guy Fawkes Night, a symbolic fit for a story about buried secrets and conspiracy.

What happened: - British author Andrew Harwood will release Cold Ground on 5 November 2026. - The novel is the first installment of The Thompson-Newman Files. - Cold Ground will be available in hardcover, paperback and eBook. - The story follows Denver police detective Stephanie Thompson-Newman as a homicide investigation expands beyond her department. - Stephanie’s case leads into intelligence services, old alliances and secrets with the power to change the future. - Stephanie’s husband, Drew, is a successful British venture capitalist.

The details: - As the investigation advances, Drew’s hidden past comes into view. - Stephanie and Drew’s marriage becomes central to the plot as each learns something that changes their view of the other. - Harwood said he wanted readers to spend time with two people who genuinely love each other and see what the story asks of them. - A review on Reedsy Discovery called the novel “a clever, compulsive thriller” with “intricately layered plot and compelling characters.” - Reviewer Donna Costello said the marriage felt unusually realistic for the genre and called the book one “James Patterson fans will love to sink their teeth into.” - The novel is published by The Thompson-Newman Files Limited. - Harwood lives in London, England.

Between the lines: - The series appears designed to stand out from standard domestic-thriller formulas by treating the central marriage as stable before putting it under pressure. - The transatlantic setup broadens the stakes beyond a local murder case and gives the series room for repeated international plots. - Harwood’s comment about November 5 suggests he is framing the release as thematically tied to secrecy, plots and exposed conspiracies.

What’s next: - A second novel, Coldest Trade, is already in development. - Harwood has also built companion origin short stories for The Thompson-Newman Files. - Those stories are available through his Substack, including First Light, a free introduction to the series world. - More information is available at the author’s website. - Harwood also shares updates on his Substack.

The bottom line: - Cold Ground launches a new series with a built-in hook: a murder investigation that forces a detective to confront the man she married.