A REDDITCH author is celebrating the launch of her new book - the third in a series of incredibly popular crime thrillers.

Crime and horror author Carla Buckley, who writes under the name Carla Kovach, held a 'social media day' chatting to readers last week to celebrate the release of Her Pretty Bones, featuring DI Gina Harte.

The Redditch resident said: "I was really excited about the release of Her Pretty Bones. Following the success of the first two in the series, The Next Girl and Her Final Hour, I couldn’t wait for the third to be out there.

"The last two books went down really well on publication day, but the nerves that surround that moment don’t diminish at all.

"Thankfully, Her Pretty Bones headed straight in at number two on Apple Books UK and has since been hogging the overall number one spot in Amazon Australia.

"It’s also reached number one in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on Apple Books - I could hardly believe it."

Her Pretty Bones was officially released last week.

The book, described as an 'unputdownable new thriller', is book three in the DI Gina Harte series.

A young woman falls from a vehicle speeding down a quiet road. Battered and bruised, she turns her head to the person who comes to her aid. ‘Help her’, she whispers before her eyes close.

Days later, the body of another young girl is found in a shallow grave just a few miles away.

The similarities between the two girls are startling – same age, same frail body, same shocking red hair.

As the town fears there’s a serial killer living amongst them, Detective Gina Harte must put aside her own struggles at home, and catch the killer before he finds another perfect girl.

Carla said: "I’m always nervous about how a new book will be received. When the first few reviews came in, I managed to let out a sigh of relief. It’s always tense when a new book hits the market.

"It’s great knowing that there are people out there other than my editor and me who are so deeply invested in DI Gina Harte’s story and the crimes she investigates."

The next book in the series is already well underway.

Carla admitted: "At the moment it’s called DI Gina Harte - Book 4.

"It will have a title eventually and if you want to know a little bit about the content, think ‘murder at the party.’ My lovely publishers, Bookouture, gave me a further three book deal later last year. I’m super thrilled to be working with them again and my editor."

Book four is due for release in July of this year.

For more details or where to pick up a copy of Her Pretty Bones, go to facebook.com/CarlaKovachAuthor.