A brand-new British crime mystery set on the Dorset coast from bestselling author Michael Hambling.

Meet Detective Sophie Allen. She’s an expert on murder and violent crime. Her brilliant mind works tirelessly to put the most vicious criminals behind bars, but conceals dark secrets from her own past. 

A dark, wet night on a lonely road in west Dorset. Bryony O’Neil stops her car when she spots a distressed young woman by the side of the road. But all is not as it seems . . . 

The following day, keen rambler Robin Pryor sets off along the clifftop path from the pretty seaside town of Lyme Regis — and never comes home. 

The subsequent search reveals a badly beaten body hidden in the undergrowth beside the path. 

It’s the third time that week the police have been called out to the quiet little town. First an attempted car-jacking. Then a break-in — where nothing was taken. And now murder. 

Detective Barry Marsh’s instincts tell him that a particularly callous killer has descended on his patch. And their timing couldn’t be worse. His boss and mentor, Detective Sophie Allen, is still in hospital, recovering from the injuries she sustained in their last case. Not that she’d let that stop her! 

Then a second body is discovered, a few miles further along the coastal path. And the case takes a terrifying new twist . . . 

Discover a captivating crime mystery which will have you gripped from start to finish. 

If you like Joy Ellis, Ann Cleeves, J.D. Kirk, J.M. Dalgliesh, or Pauline Rowson, you will love this thrilling crime mystery. 

READERS LOVE THE SOPHIE ALLEN BOOKS: 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Loved it. These Sophie Allen books get better and better.’ Aileen G. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another great read.’ Michelle G. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Kept me enthralled from the first page and I did not want to put it down.’ Barbara 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A fun whodunnit.’ Kimberly M. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Really enjoyed getting to know Detective Sophie Allen and her team.’ Paula L. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The storyline was very interesting and flowed nicely . . . well worth reading!’ Debbie B. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Good pacing, excellent police procedural, interesting characters and a likeable police team . . . Definitely recommended!’ Hannelore C. 

THE DETECTIVE 

DCI Sophie Allen is Dorset’s acknowledged expert on murder and violent crime. She has recently been promoted to Chief Superintendent of the Wessex Serious Crimes Unit, overseeing investigations across Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset. She is in her early fifties, and lives with her husband in Wareham. She has two grown-up daughters. Sophie has a law degree and a master’s in criminal psychology. Her brilliant mind conceals some dark secrets from her past.

THE SETTING 

The picturesque coastal town of Lyme Regis is situated at the point where the dramatic West Dorset and East Devon coastlines meet – right in the heart of the world-famous Jurassic Coast. The town is known as the ‘Pearl of Dorset’ and is renowned for its natural beauty, fossils, literary connections and extraordinarily rich heritage.

ALSO BY MICHAEL HAMBLING 

THE SOPHIE ALLEN BOOKS

Book 1: DARK CRIMES

Book 2: DEADLY CRIMES

Book 3: SECRET CRIMES

Book 4: BURIED CRIMES

Book 5: TWISTED CRIMES

Book 6: EVIL CRIMES

Book 7: SHADOW CRIMES

Book 8: SILENT CRIMES

Book 9: RUTHLESS CRIMES

Book 10: BRUTAL CRIMES

Book 11: HIDDEN CRIMES

Book 12: VICIOUS CRIMES

Book 13: HEARTLESS CRIMES