AN ABSOLUTELY GRIPPING CRIME THRILLER WITH AN ASTONISHING TWIST.

A bloodstained coat. Three missing women. One dead body.

Detective Mary Hume reckons she’s seen it all. But she’s never seen anything like this.

It begins with the discovery of a broken body in a lift shaft in an old Victorian warehouse.

The post-mortem reveals the bloodstains on the dead man’s coat belong to three different people. DNA identifies one of them as Julie Cross, whose body was discovered six months earlier, covered in horrifying wounds.

Maverick ex-police officer Raine was hired to look for Julie. She didn’t find Julie in time. But she’s determined to find out who killed her.

So, who does the rest of the blood belong to?

Chalk-and-cheese detective duo Raine and Hume are in a race against time to uncover the truth before more young women die.

Perfect for fans of Mark Billingham, Lynda La Plante, Karin Slaughter, Biba Pearce and Angela Marsons.

WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE RAINE & HUME BOOKS:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A novel that just cannot be put down. Incredible writing and a brilliant story.’ Ron B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a page turner of a book from start to finish . . . the character Raine is brilliant this is a book I found hard to put down it is that good.’ Deborah B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Well thought out, well written and, for all the creepiness, has some laughs along the way. A fantastic read.’ Aileen G.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Brilliant read! This was a really creepy read, just what I enjoy. The ending definitely left me wanting more.’ Karen B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Now this is what I call a crime thriller and so much more. I literally devoured this book in one sitting and I have no nails left . . . This book deserves more than five stars just for pure entertainment.’ Peggy B.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If I could rate this book with six stars it still wouldn’t be enough. I know it’s subjective, but for me this is the best book I’ve read this year.’ Nigel A.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘With a surprise ending, the author leaves us wanting to know what’s next. This is my first book by this author and I loved it.’ Stacy G.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A good read . . . I was gripped from page one.’ Barbara

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely loved this book — which is the first I have read by Stephen Williams but definitely won’t be the last . . . I was gripped from start to finish.’ Lee

MEET THE DETECTIVES

Detective Inspector Mary Hume is in her mid-fifties, a seasoned detective with the Met. She loves her job, but finds the latest technology a challenge. She’s happily married to Robert, practises yoga and watches what she eats. Her friendship with maverick private investigator Raine is fine on the surface — even though Raine’s deep-fried diet fills her with horror — but there are underlying tensions.

Raine is a former police officer turned private investigator. She left the Met in tragic circumstances. She uses irreverent banter and off-colour jokes to cover her quick thinking and sudden flashes of violence. In her mid-thirties, she lives on a houseboat in central London.

ALSO BY STEPHEN WILLIAMS

RAINE & HUME SERIES

Book 1: THE SKIN CODE

Book 2: A BLOODSTAINED COAT