December 1930. After a year of bloodshed and scandal, the police officers of Craynebrook are hoping for a quiet Christmas. But when the bodies of an elderly couple are discovered in their home on Christmas morning, they realise there will be no peace this holiday season.

Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard is called to lead the case, but he's barely holding himself together. Still haunted by a brutal assault that nearly ended his life, Matthew is feeling isolated and exhausted and, for the first time in his career, reluctant to take on a complex murder investigation.

Then a detective from Essex County Police arrives in Craynebrook, demanding help to track down a child abductor who has been plaguing his Force for years.

But Matthew's in no mood to cooperate with an arrogant, ambitious outsider. And when the Essex detective begins interfering in Matthew's investigation, a clash becomes inevitable.

***

Book 5 in the Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard series.
Other titles available:
The Empire Club Murders
Echoes of a Murder
Death of a Blackbird
Sixpence for a Slaughter

PC Matthew Stannard novellas:
Under Cover of Darkness
Lies and Desperate Measures

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• Crime, Thriller & MysteryMysteryPolice Procedurals
• Crime, Thriller & MysteryThrillersHistorical
• Crime, Thriller & MysteryCrime FictionKidnapping

• Publication Date: December 21, 2025
• Text-to-Speech: Disabled
• Lending: Disabled
• Print Length: 370 Pages
• File Size: 22 KB