Cynthia Mary Murphy (née Power; born 6 January 1984) is an English author of young adult (YA) thrillers. Her first three novels won Lancashire Book of the Year three years in a row.
Early life and education Murphy was born to Irish parents and grew up in Whitefield, Greater Manchester.
Murphy attended St Monica's High School in Prestwich. She pursued a degree in Art History and Archaeology at university. In 2015, she took the Curtis Brown Children's & YA Fiction writing course in 2015.
Career Murphy began her career as a primary schoolteacher in both the state and private sectors at Old Hall Primary School in Bury, Clevelands Preparatory School in Bolton and Bury Grammar School. She made three attempts at publication prior to her successful fourth attempt.
Via a two-book deal in 2020, Scholastic UK acquired the rights to publish Murphy's debut young adult (YA) novel Last One to Die in 2021. Last One to Die won Lancashire Book of the Year among other accolades.
This was followed by Murphy's second novel Win Lose Kill Die in 2022, which also won Lancashire Book of the Year. After being discovered on TikTok, Win Lose Kill Die had a U.S. publication in 2023 via Delacorte Press. Also in 2022, Murphy began hosting the writing podcast Delete My Browser History with Georgia Bowers.
Murphy's next two Scholastic UK titles were The Midnight Game in 2023 and Signed Sealed Dead in 2024. Also in 2023, she published her fifth novel Welcome to Camp Killer via Barrington Stoke. The Midnight Game won Murphy's third Lancashire Book of the Year accolade.
In November 2024, Murphy signed two three-book deals with Penguin Books in the UK and Delacorte Press in the U.S respectively, through which she published Keep Your Friends Close in 2025 and Paint Me Luke Your Dead Girls in 2026.
Personal life Murphy has a husband Luke. In 2016, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Bibliography Novels Last One to Die (2021) Win Lose Kill Die (2022) The Midnight Game (2023) Welcome to Camp Killer (2023) Signed Sealed Dead (2024) Keep Your Friends Close (2025) Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls (2026)
Short stories "Till Death Do Us Part" in A Taste of Darkness: 13 Spooky Stories to Savour (2023) edited by Amy McCaw and Maria Kuzniar
Accolades +YearAwardCategoryTitleResult. 2022 Wirral Book Award Last One to Die Lancashire Book of the Year Redhill Academy Trust Book Awards 2023 RED Book Award Cheshire Schools' Book Award Older age Win Lose Kill Die Lancashire Book of the Year 2024 The Midnight Game 2026 Wessex Amazing Book Award Keep Your Friends Close Trafford Book Award
References