UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07D2FDSG8/r UK only 99p

USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D2FDSG8/ USA only $0.99

AUS https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07D2FDSG8/ AUS 0.99

CANADA https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07D2FDSG8/ CANADA 0.99

Hope you enjoy reading it.

Best wishes
Rudi

What readers are saying about MARRIED LIES

“I was well and truly hooked from the beginning.” Lynne

“A fast paced mystery with twists and turns.” Barbara

“An intriguing mystery that kept me on my toes.” Hannelore Cheney

“Well written, with outstanding characters, and a terrific story premise.” Linda Stong

“Great story and I love the partnership between Mariner, Knox and Millie.” Nerys

MARRIED LIES by CHRIS COLLETT
 

Do you love gripping mysteries with great characters?

Discover Detective Tom Mariner in this critically acclaimed series.

'Collett is a wonderful writer, subtle, clever, strong on atmosphere and character.’ Yorkshire Post

Lucy Jarrett is terrified. Someone is watching her every move, following her home from work and making threatening phone calls. But her husband doesn’t believe her and no one else is listening.

Lucy’s married life is proving anything but blissful. Her musician husband is perpetually away on tour and doesn’t want to start a family.

Lucy finally calls on DI Tom Mariner for help, and he takes her fears seriously because of the recent murder of another young woman by her ex-partner.

Mariner himself is already on the hunt for a sadistic killer. Nina Silvero, wife of an ex-police officer, was duped into sipping sulphuric acid disguised as celebratory wine. Grappling with her apparently motiveless killing, Mariner delegates Lucy’s case to Millie Khatoon.  Is someone out for revenge against the police?

Can DI Tom Mariner track down the stalker and catch the killer before anyone else dies?

Discover an absorbing crime mystery full of stunning twists and turns.

Perfect for fans of Peter James, Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson. This is the fifth book in the DI MARINER SERIES, more books coming soon!

THE SETTING

Birmingham is a city of stark contrasts with a rich cultural and historical heritage. Playing a key role in the industrial revolution, it helped shape the nation’s manufacturing industry

But with its many green spaces, Birmingham also borders on the beautiful countryside of Worcestershire and Warwickshire, is just a few miles from Stratford on Avon and a short drive from the wild country of mid-Wales.

Birmingham’s population is large and ethnically diverse, and while urban regeneration has forged a modern and culturally vibrant city, the decaying remnants of the industrial past and 1960s concrete jungle give it a unique and gritty character; the dark underbelly policed by DI Tom Mariner and his team.

THE DETECTIVE

Detective Inspector Tom Mariner is, on the surface, an average dedicated policeman, but his experiences as a younger man have given him an insight into life on the dark side, and a clear sense of right and wrong. Mariner has little interest in material things. He lives in a modest canal-side cottage, enjoys the occasional (real) beer and game of dominoes and drives an old car. He is most at home in the outdoors, with an OS map and a compass, and in times of crisis, will take off and walk for miles in any weather.

THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “STALKED BY SHADOWS.”

DI MARINER SERIES

Book 1: Deadly Lies

Book 2: Innocent Lies

Book 3: Killer Lies

Book 4: Baby Lies

Book 5: Married Lies

Books 6-7 coming soon

PRESS RELEASE

JOY ELLIS and JOFFE BOOKS

CELEBRATE 1 MILLION COPIES SOLD

Independent publisher Joffe Books is delighted to announce author Joy Ellis has achieved book sales of 1 million copies with a further 214 million pages read in Kindle Unlimited, the equivalent to another million sales.  This is the publisher’s first author to hit 1 million copies.

Ellis’s first title with Joffe Books in June 2016 was Crime on the Fens - Book 1 of the Nikki Galena series. Since then Joffe have published a further 13 books by Ellis, including Beware the Past with 132,000 copies already sold in just 3 months.  In total, Ellis has achieved on Kindle 3 consecutive UK No.1’s, 11 UK Top 20’s and 2 USA TOP 10’s bestsellers.  Her books have been translated into Italian by Newton Compton and released as audio books by Audible and Tantor.

The Guilty Ones,  Book 4 of the Jackman & Evans series, was released 14th March.

Joy Ellis grew up and lived in Kent, trained in floristry in Mayfair and ran her own highly successful floristry business in Weybridge for many years. The 1990s recession led her to withdraw from that business and she followed her lifelong love of books, firstly by working for WH Smith until finally managing an independent bookshop in Leatherhead, Surrey.

Joy’s writing career began after she attended a course, tutored by Sue Townsend, at the Skyros Institute in the mid-nineties.  She retired a few years later around the same time as her partner, Jacqueline, who had been a highly decorated police officer with Surrey police.  Looking for a new home together with their two Springer spaniels, they fell under the spell of the Lincolnshire Fens, settling in a village just outside Boston.

Joy’s happy home life is far removed from her storylines, however, and while she loves living in the misty Fens, the area is steeped in superstition and provides a remote and eerie backdrop to her novels.  Joy is also able to add the authenticity vital to any crime thriller by drawing on Jacqueline’s inside knowledge, to confirm procedures and the reality of tackling brutal crime and criminals in a modern police force.

Joy says, “A million sales? That comes into the category of Beyond my Wildest Dreams. How do I feel about it? Simply amazed. After decades of writing, and getting nowhere, but being too driven, or maybe too damned obstinate, to give up: this is more than special. It is also very humbling. The fact that people all over the world are reading my books and taking the time to get in contact, is a very emotional thing. And the stories they tell you, make you understand exactly why you write, and why you want to go on writing.

I always wanted to write a bestseller, surely every fiction writer does? But I never looked at the finished product from the reader/writer point of view. Now I know that my books fill someone’s lonely night, or accompany them into a hospital waiting room, or take them away (just for a little while) from something bad going on in their lives, now I know that, I feel very different, I feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

The support that I have been given, especially from my incredible publisher Joffe Books, is nothing less that inspirational and so much of this success is down to them. I’ve had so much help too from Jacqueline, my partner and in-house police procedural advisor, (and tea-maker!) And on top of that, I now have the friendship of the other wonderful authors in our ‘stable’, and that of all the tireless bloggers and reviewers that carry us along and buoy us up. This One Million is not just about me, it’s about all of us... and all of you.”

Jasper Joffe, founder of Joffe Books, says, ”Joy's a phenomenon. She is wonderful to work with and she's always writing. It's amazing how her books really strike a chord with readers and a million sales is a testament to her hard work and dedication to writing brilliant mysteries. We're proud to publish her."

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT HANNAH CORBETT

Hannah@hannahcorbett.co.uk / Mob. 07711 797 792

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-gripping-crime-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B07BJ8D233/

USA  https://www.amazon.com/MURDER-gripping-crime-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B07BJ8D233/

AUS https://www.amazon.com.au/MURDER-gripping-crime-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B07BJ8D233/

CAN https://www.amazon.ca/MURDER-gripping-crime-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B07BJ8D233/

Looking for a brilliant best-selling murder mystery with a feisty female detective?
 
Meet DI HILLARY GREENE, a policewoman struggling to save her career and catch criminals.
 
David Merchant’s body is found in a bonfire in his back garden. David was a publisher and devout Christian. Who would want to kill this seemingly very decent man?
 
DI Hillary Greene faces one of her most puzzling cases as she struggles to find anyone with a strong motive to kill the pious publisher.

Them, as Hillary unearths greedy business partners and an estranged son, her focus is diverted when a new team member is targeted by a vicious gang.
 
Hillary’s under massive pressure and will she finally crack? And if she does, where will she go from here?
 
This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to the absolutely heart-stopping conclusion.
 
MURDER BY FIRE is the tenth in a series of page-turning crime thrillers set in Oxfordshire.
 
Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.
 
 
THE LOCATION
Kidlington itself, the home of Thames Valley Police HQ.  Almost regarded as a suburb of Oxford, there is some debate in Kidlington whether it is a town or a village! If it’s a village, it’s a very large one, with supermarkets, garages, plenty of pubs and a small shopping centre. It sits on a plain that was once devoted to farming, with several small satellite villages around it, such as Hampton Poyle and Yarnton. It also has a small airport, once known as Oxford Airport, but recently renamed to include London in the title!   
 
THE DETECTIVE
DI Hillary Greene
An attractive woman in her forties, Hillary Greene is a police officer of many years’ experience, and came up through the ranks. Consequently, she knows how the system works, and is fiercely loyal to the force without being blinkered to its faults. Popular with the rank and file for her no-nonsense attitude and competence.
 
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “A NARROW POINT OF VIEW.”
 
DI HILLARY GREENE SERIES
BOOK 1: MURDER ON THE OXFORD CANAL
BOOK 2: MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY
BOOK 3: MURDER OF THE BRIDE
BOOK 4: MURDER IN THE VILLAGE
BOOK 5: MURDER IN THE FAMILY
BOOK 6: MURDER AT HOME
BOOK 7: MURDER IN THE MEADOW
BOOK 8: MURDER IN THE MANSION
BOOK 9: MURDER IN THE GARDEN
BOOK 10: MURDER BY FIRE
 
Books 11-17 coming soon!
Join the Joffe Books mailing list to be the first to hear about new
releases.

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-MEADOW-gripping-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B078WW1PBL/

USA https://www.amazon.com/murder-meadow-gripping-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B078WW1PBL/

AUS https://www.amazon.com.au/murder-meadow-gripping-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B078WW1PBL/

Meet DI HILLARY GREENE, a policewoman struggling to save her career and catch criminals.

Wayne Sutton is found dead by a stream in a beautiful meadow. His head has been bashed in and a red paper heart left on his body. The handsome young artist had a reputation as a ladies’ man.

DI Hillary Greene discovers that many wealthy married women were buying his paintings and taking ‘private’ art lesson from him. It appears that several of them might have wanted him dead.

Hillary also has a new detective sergeant, Gemma Fordham. Seemingly efficient and pleasant, she harbours a secret agenda.

Can Hillary get to the bottom of a complex case involving jealousy, love, and cold-blooded murder?

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to finish.

MURDER IN THE MEADOW is the seventh in a series of page-turning crime thrillers set in Oxfordshire.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “BESIDE A NARROW STREAM.”

DI HILLARY GREENE SERIES

BOOK 1: MURDER ON THE OXFORD CANAL

BOOK 2: MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY

BOOK 3: MURDER OF THE BRIDE

BOOK 4: MURDER IN THE VILLAGE

BOOK 5: MURDER IN THE FAMILY

BOOK 6: MURDER AT HOME

BOOK 7: MURDER IN THE MEADOW

Books 8-11 coming soon!

Looking for a brilliant best-selling murder mystery with a feisty female detective? Discover one of the UK’s most popular detective series.

Meet DI HILLARY GREENE, a policewoman struggling to save her career and catch criminals.

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-gripping-crime-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B078HRB7TT/

USA https://www.amazon.com/MURDER-gripping-crime-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B078HRB7TT/

AUS:  https://www.amazon.com.au/MURDER-gripping-crime-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B078HRB7TT/


Flo Jenkins is found murdered in her armchair, a paperknife sticking out of her chest. The old woman was well liked and nothing seems to have been stolen from her home. And it was common knowledge that she only had weeks to live.

Why kill a dying woman? This is going to be one of the toughest cases yet for Hillary to solve.

Hillary also has to deal with a new colleague who has a terrible temper and a rocky past.

With no forensics, no leads, and only a drug-addict nephew as a suspect, will this be Hillary’s first failure to solve a murder case?

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to finish.

MURDER AT HOME is the sixth in a series of page-turning crime thrillers set in Oxfordshire.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.

What readers are saying about MURDER AT HOME

“This is the best of the DI Hillary Greene books yet.” Hannelore Cheney

“Will have you guessing up to the last minute.” Barbara

“This was a brilliant book, Faith Martin’s best one to date, it was a cracking read. I am giving it a gigantic 5 stars.” Dawn Jones

“Each one seems to get better and better. DI Hillary Greene is one of my favorite characters. She's feisty, but fair, and has overcome a lot to get where she is now.” Linda Strong

THE LOCATION
Set in the town of Bicester. England is famous for its picturesque and unique market towns, many of which date back to the Middle Ages, or even further. Traditionally, they were places where farmers met to trade livestock, buy supplies and sell their arable goods. Nowadays, modern markets are often still held in the streets, and in Bicester, where this novel is set, a ‘street market’ happens every Friday. The main street is in fact called Sheep Street, and a modern sculpture of a cluster of sheep pays tribute to the town’s history. Often these old market towns are lined with architecture that spans the centuries — from timber-framed Elizabeth houses, through to the classical lines beloved of the Georgians, to the more ornate houses favoured by the Victorians. Quiet, attractive and often full of character, these old market towns are very desirable places to live.

THE DETECTIVES

DI Hillary Greene
An attractive woman in her forties, Hillary Greene is a police officer of many years’ experience, and came up through the ranks. Consequently, she knows how the system works, and is fiercely loyal to the force without being blinkered to its faults. She is a long-standing friend of her immediate superior officer, 'Mellow' Mallow and enjoys a rather enigmatic relationship with the steely Superintendent Marcus Donleavy. Popular with the rank and file for her no-nonsense attitude and competence.

DCI Philip 'Mellow' Mallow
Mel appreciates Hillary's first-rate ability to solve her cases, and isn't happy about her harassment by the officers from York. Known for his sartorial elegance and laid-back manners, he has a sharp mind, and an eye for the ladies. A good friend and ally for Hillary in her recent tribulations, he's determined to keep his best investigator focused on the problems at hand.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “WITH A NARROW BLADE.”

DI HILLARY GREENE SERIES
BOOK 1: MURDER ON THE OXFORD CANAL
BOOK 2: MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY
BOOK 3: MURDER OF THE BRIDE
BOOK 4: MURDER IN THE VILLAGE
BOOK 5: MURDER IN THE FAMILY
BOOK 6: MURDER AT HOME

Books 7-11 coming soon!

UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077DBY7T7

AMAZON USA LINK
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077DBY7T7

AUSTRALIA LINK
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B077DBY7T7

Looking for a brilliant best-selling murder mystery with a feisty female detective?

Then meet DI HILLARY GREENE, a policewoman struggling to save her career and catch criminals.

A would-be politician is found battered to death in the kitchen of his expensive home in a lovely Oxfordshire village. His wife’s alibi is full of holes and there’s another woman in the background. And what about his seemingly mild-mannered political rival?

DI Hillary Greene tries to get to the bottom of this perplexing murder. She certainly doesn’t think the prime suspect is as guilty as everyone thinks.

Just as she’s about to make a breakthrough, everything is turned upside down by a fatal development in another case she is working on . . .

Can Hillary find the murderer and will she survive a brush with one of Oxford’s most dangerous criminals?

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to finish.

MURDER IN THE VILLAGE is the fourth in a series of page-turning crime thrillers set in Oxfordshire.

What readers are saying about MURDER IN THE VILLAGE

“This is the best book in the series so far.” Barbara

“Another page-turning book by Faith Martin, I just couldn’t put it down.” Viv

“Very well written. Can’t wait for the next one. 5**” Carole

“Faith Martin is now a favourite to look forward to.” Ron

THE LOCATION
The picturesque village of Lower Heyford, set in North Oxfordshire's Cherwell Valley, nestles close to the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Farming country, the village has been in existence in one form or another for over a thousand years, providing a natural 'ford' for oxen over the river since medieval times. A mix of thatched and old stone and slate cottages, it is home to local families and rich 'incomers' alike. It's proximity by train to both London and Birmingham make it a very desirable place to live indeed, and both the Oxford canal and the river Cherwell run close to it, making it haven for walkers, boaters and wildlife.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “BY A NARROW MAJORITY.”

DI HILLARY GREENE SERIES
BOOK 1: MURDER ON THE OXFORD CANAL
BOOK 2: MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY
BOOK 3: MURDER OF THE BRIDE
BOOK 4: MURDER IN THE VILLAGE
MORE COMING SOON!

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0776ZNRDG/
USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0776ZNRDG/
AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0776ZNRDG/

Do you love police procedurals with great characters and real grit?

'Collett is a wonderful writer, subtle, clever, strong on atmosphere and character.’ Yorkshire Post

Discover Detective Tom Mariner in this critically acclaimed series.

Two teenagers go missing on the same day. Just a coincidence?

They are from very different backgrounds: Yasmin is the talented, grammar-school-educated daughter of devout Muslim professionals. Ricky disappears after storming out of his council house after an argument with his mum’s latest boyfriend.

DI Mariner knows Ricky's mother from his days in uniform. He is furious when his superiors take him off Ricky’s case and reassign him to the more politically sensitive investigation. The press — and his bosses — are convinced that Yasmin's disappearance is a racially motivated abduction. The Akrams have been the target of a far right group.

But Mariner soon discovers that Yasmin is far from the innocent victim her parents think she is. Can he get to the bottom of a perplexing case where no one is what they seem?

Find out the answers in this crime mystery full of stunning twists and turns.

Perfect for fans of Peter James, Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson. This is the second book in the DI MARINER SERIES. More books coming soon!

What readers are saying about INNOCENT LIES
“You really are left guessing until the end.” Carole

“5 Stars – A gripping tale.” Barbara

“I will recommend to friends and family.” Viv

“This is a brilliant read . . . a page turner and cleverly thought out.” Misfits Farm


THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “BLOOD OF THE INNOCENTS.”

DI MARINER SERIES
Book 1: Deadly Lies
Book 2: Innocent Lies
More coming soon!

NEW
RELEASE

AMAZON UK LINK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-BRIDE-gripping-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B076YWWMDN/

AMAZON USA LINK
https://www.amazon.com/MURDER-BRIDE-gripping-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B076YWWMDN/

AUSTRALIA LINK
https://www.amazon.com.au/MURDER-BRIDE-gripping-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B076YWWMDN/

Looking for a brilliant murder mystery with a feisty female detective?

MURDER OF THE BRIDE BY FAITH MARTIN

DI Hillary Greene is called out to attend a suspicious death at Three Oaks Farm in the picturesque village of Steeple Barton.

The large farmhouse is filled with music and revellers, but when she steps into the farm’s cowshed, Hillary finds a dead bride. Dressed in a sumptuous white wedding gown, the young, beautiful redhead had clearly been strangled.

But not everything is what it seems, and the victim turns out to be at the centre of a web of jealousy and intrigue in the close-knit village. Many of the villagers have a motive for murdering her but they’re not giving up their secrets easily.

Can Hillary discover the real reason for this brutal crime and cope with the spiralling revelations about her dead ex-husband? 

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to finish.

MURDER OF THE BRIDE is the third in a series of page-turning crime thrillers set in Oxfordshire.

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell. 

THE LOCATION
North-west Oxfordshire is farming country, and parts of it belong to the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty. Here the river Cherwell wanders through buttercup-strewn water meadows, where both sheep, horses and cattle graze. Spotted with woodlands, meandering narrow country lanes, and home to re-introduced soaring red kites, buzzards and other abundant wildlife, its thatched cottages and ancient farmhouses could be featured on any number of chocolate boxes. But don’t be totally fooled — it’s very much a working environment, and farmers are out in all seasons, tending their crops and livestock. And under the bucolic surface, dark secrets lurk.

THE DETECTIVES

DI Hillary Greene
An attractive woman in her forties, Hillary Greene is a police officer of many years’ experience, and came up through the ranks. Consequently, she knows how the system works, and is fiercely loyal to the force without being blinkered to its faults. She is a long-standing friend of her immediate superior officer, 'Mellow' Mallow and enjoys a rather enigmatic relationship with the steely Superintendent Marcus Donleavy. Popular with the rank and file for her no-nonsense attitude and competence.

DCI Philip 'Mellow' Mallow
Mel appreciates Hillary's first-rate ability to solve her cases, and isn't happy about her harassment by the officers from York. Known for his sartorial elegance and laid-back manners, he has a sharp mind, and an eye for the ladies. A good friend and ally for Hillary in her recent tribulations, he's determined to keep his best investigator focused on the problems at hand.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “NARROW IS THE WAY.”

DI HILLARY GREENE SERIES
BOOK 1: MURDER ON THE OXFORD CANAL
BOOK 2: MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY
BOOK 3: MURDER OF THE BRIDE
MORE COMING SOON!

Discover a new detective in a tough city. DI Tom Mariner thinks he’s seen it all, but now he faces an investigation which will push him to the limit.

AMAZON UK LINK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DEADLY-gripping-detective-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B075XT8Y4D/

AMAZON USA LINK
https://www.amazon.com/DEADLY-gripping-detective-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B075XT8Y4D/

AUSTRALIA LINK
https://www.amazon.com.au/DEADLY-gripping-detective-mystery-twists-ebook/dp/B075XT8Y4D/

'Collett is a wonderful writer, subtle, clever, strong on atmosphere and character.’ Yorkshire Post

Journalist Eddie Barham is found dead in his home. A syringe is in his arm and a note by his side reads, ‘No More.’

Open and shut case of suicide? Not for DI Mariner. Hours before, he saw Barham picking up a woman in a bar. And then Mariner discovers Barham's younger brother, Jamie, hiding in a cupboard under the stairs.

Jamie is the only witness to his brother's death, but his severe autism makes communication almost impossible. Mariner is determined to connect with Jamie and get to the truth. Is the journalist’s death related to his investigation of a local crime kingpin? 

What other dark secrets does Jamie hold the key to and can Mariner keep his relationship professional with Barham’s attractive sister, Anna?

In a nail-biting conclusion, Mariner races against time to prevent more lives being lost.

Perfect for fans of Peter James, Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson. 

This is the first book in the DI MARINER SERIES, more books coming soon!

What readers are saying about DEADLY LIES
“I liked it a lot, one of the better books I read this year.” Hannelore Cheney

“5 STARS. What a wonderful book.” Ron

“This is a complex plot which gripped me when I started reading.” Olga

“5 Stars – A Gripping Read. “ Barbara

“A very well written and gripping book.” Viv

“A clever plot, excellent characters and that “je ne sais quoi” that keeps you turning the pages. ” Nicki

THE SETTING
Birmingham is a city of stark contrasts with a rich cultural and historical heritage. Playing a key role in the industrial revolution, it helped shape the nation’s manufacturing industry

But with its many green spaces, Birmingham also borders on the beautiful countryside of Worcestershire and Warwickshire, is just a few miles from Stratford on Avon and a short drive from the wild country of mid-Wales.

Birmingham’s population is large and ethnically diverse, and while urban regeneration has forged a modern and culturally vibrant city, the decaying remnants of the industrial past and 1960s concrete jungle give it a unique and gritty character; the dark underbelly policed by DI Tom Mariner and his team.

THE DETECTIVES
Detective Inspector Tom Mariner is, on the surface, an average dedicated policeman, but his experiences as a younger man have given him an insight into life on the dark side, and a clear sense of right and wrong. Mariner has little interest in material things. He lives in a modest canal-side cottage, enjoys the occasional (real) beer and game of dominoes and drives an old car. He is most at home in the outdoors, with an OS map and a compass, and in times of crisis, will take off and walk for miles in any weather.

Police Constable Tony Knox has recently transferred to the West Midlands force and finds himself back in uniform following an undisclosed transgression. A scouser with the gift of the gab, and an irrepressible ladies’ man, Knox is initially wary of the inscrutable DI Mariner, but, when a need arises, is grateful for his unquestioning support and the lack of curiosity about his personal life.

THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “A WORM IN THE BUD.”