One witness who can’t be trusted. Seven actors who’ll never stray from the script.

And a costumed killer, waiting in the wings . . . 

Behind the front door of Mr and Mrs Morgan’s elegant Norwich townhouse, something is terribly wrong. Detective Sara Hirst pushes it open to find a scene of utter devastation. Furniture upended. Shattered china and torn papers strewn across the floor. And, amid it all, James Morgan himself. A frail old dementia sufferer, crying out for his wife. 

Where’s Carole? 

Amateur actress Carole Morgan was out late last night, running lines with her castmates at the Rosegarden Theatre. James waited up for her for hours. But now he knows, she’s never coming home. 

A stranger came calling in the night to tell James as much. A masked stranger, draped in a monk’s habit. 

Now, James urges Sara to hunt for the person behind the mask, certain that the trail will lead straight to his missing wife. 

Sara takes his ramblings with a pinch of salt. It’s just his distressed mind playing tricks on him. 

But when a body is found, hidden beneath the boards of the Rosegarden stage, she’s forced to think again. 

Now Sara’s in a race against time to track the ruthless killer. With a cloaked figure watching her every move from the shadows . . . 

This gripping, character-driven crime thriller is perfect for fans of Joy Ellis, J.M. Dalgliesh, Matt Brolly, Biba Pearce, Rachel McLean, Rachel Lynch and Angela Marsons.

READERS CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF JUDI DAYKIN: 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It's a mindblower, every chapter has a slap bang feeling to make your heart skip.’ Booklover Bev 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An interesting and enjoyable murder mystery set in Norfolk. I liked the vivid descriptions of the hot weather which leads to suspicious wild fires. Lots of twists, turns and family dynamics.’ Carol S. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Set in Norfolk, this is a gripping thriller that gets readers turning each page until the end. The Sara Hirst character is well drawn as well. Amazing.’ Mary H. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘So many twists. Would recommend this book to others.’ Hannah H. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This book was a great read! It had suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, mystery, arson, even a little romance going on! The storyline was interesting and kept me glued to my kindle!’ Debbie B. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a great read, I loved it! Not only is it an excellent mystery, the characters are all likeable, except of course the bad guys! Lovely setting of Norfolk too.’ Hannelore C. 

THE DETECTIVE 

DS Sara Hirst has left a successful career in London’s Metropolitan Police Force and taken a new post in Norfolk Police’s Serious Crimes Unit. Unfortunately, her welcome on the team is far from warm, and Sara will have to work hard to prove herself when the discovery of a body on her first morning leads to all kinds of difficulties.

THE SETTING 

A patchwork of tiny rural villages, with quaint coastal seaside resorts and peppered by farms, on a bewildering network of small back lanes. There are no motorways here, and sometimes it feels like your nearest neighbour lives in Holland.

Bounded on one side by the Norfolk Broads and the Wash on the other, its greatest feature is the boundless skies. The weather changes before your eyes. To many, it seems like a fairy tale, a cherished memory of childhood holidays. In reality, these are small hard-working communities, where people tend to mind their own business, and it’s easy to keep a dark secret.