On a Thursday night in February, DS Joe Romano finds himself back on home turf in Wortley, West Leeds. He’s following up on the disappearance of drug dealer Craig Shaw.
It’s the start of a case that could make or break Romano’s career. Because Shaw is about to go from missing to murdered.
While some don’t think Shaw’s killer should be brought to justice, Romano believes every life counts. But he’s running out of time.
The killer is ready to strike again. And Romano will be forced to question whether anyone has the right to kill.
‘A gritty, uncompromising thriller’ Paul Finch, author of One Eye Open
‘A commercial thriller that highlights hot-button regional and national issues . . . sure to generate conversation’ Yorkshire Post
‘A modern take on the classic police procedural’ Russ Thomas, author of Firewatching
‘Breakneck pace, terrific protagonist and a kick-ass sidekick’ Neil Lancaster, author of Dead Man’s Grave
John Barlow was born in West Yorkshire. He worked as a cabaret musician before reading English Literature at the University of Cambridge, followed by a doctorate in Language Acquisition at the University of Hull. He remained in the academic world as a university lecturer in English Language until 2004, at which point he moved to Spain. He currently works as a writer, ghost writer, food journalist and translator, and lives in the Galician city of A Coruna with his partner and two sons.