Get ready to be hooked by the thrilling and atmospheric murder mystery from the million-copy-selling crime writer, where the Kings Lake detectives are on a routine case. This time the victim isn't who they think he is.

'Had me gripped from the very start to the extremely satisfying ending.' ***** Reader Review
'Where has Peter Grainger been my whole life?' ***** Reader Review
'An excellent, intelligent and believable crime series which just gets better.' ***** Reader Review
'Engaging characters, intriguing plots and occasional humour make for a page-turning read.' ***** Reader Review
'I read a LOT of murder mysteries and this series is one of the best!' ***** Reader Review

The new Kings Lake Central murder squad is about to spend its first morning on team-building exercises and reviewing cold cases when the call comes in that the body of one of the city's rough sleepers has been found in a shop doorway.

It happens, someone says, he isn't the first to die on the streets and he won't be the last, but the story the new team begins to uncover is far from routine. New characters appear and new relationships form as the pressure grows on Detective Chief Inspector Cara Freeman to deliver a result and show that Kings Lake's first specialist team is worth the money. Detective Sergeant Christopher Waters discovers links to a previous investigation, learns that there is more than one way to run a successful squad and finds flower-arranging more interesting than he would ever have imagined.

'Ensconced in Kings Lake, in the company of Smith and his team, I didn't want to leave.' FINANCIAL TIMES
'The books are comforting, the writing is subtle and the plots are gripping.' THE TIMES