Author:Craig Russell
From the pen of prizewinning and bestselling author Craig Russell, comes this exquisitely plotted, intelligent and blindingly original crime thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. If you like Stuart MacBride, James Oswald and Ian Rankin, you won't be disappointed.
'A blood-curdlingly clever plot...thoughtful and imaginative' - THE TIMES
'A gorgeous, grisly serial-killer tale' - EXPRESS
'I read this book in one sitting, sat on the edge of my seat and tapping my kindle like a demented wood pecker.' -- ***** Reader review
'Addictive' -- ***** Reader review
'An absolutely gripping read!' -- ***** Reader review
'I really couldn't put this down and was disappointed every time I had to stop reading.' -- ***** Reader review
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FAIRY TALES DON'T ALWAYS END WELL...
A Hamburg beach: a girl's body lies, posed, on the pale sand, a message concealed in her hand. 'I have been underground, and now it is time for me to return home...'
Jan Fabel, of the Hamburg murder squad, struggles to interpret the twisted imagery of a dark and brutal mind. Four days later, a man and a woman are found deep in woodland, their throats slashed, the names 'Hansel' and 'Gretel', rolled tight and pressed into their hands.
As it becomes clear that each new crime is a grisly reference to folk stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, the hunt is on for a serial killer who is exploring our darkest, most fundamental fears.
A predator who kills and then disappears into the shadows.A monster we all learned to fear in childhood.
A blood-curdlingly clever plot ... thoughtful and imaginative
—— The TimesSympathetic cop characters and meticulous scattering of clues leading to an unnerving outcome ... Gripping
—— Gerald Kaufman , ScotsmanExquisitely plotted, blindingly original
—— Scottish Daily RecordA gorgeous, grisly serial-killer tale that will have you on the edge of your seat
—— ExpressIf you're looking for a distinctive and exciting new voice in crime fiction, then look no further than Craig Russell. This is gritty, authentic and disturbing stuff
—— Mo HayderSo high-concept, so ambitious and so structurally brilliant. It's so rare to read a thriller that's perfect in every detail, but this one definitely qualifies!
—— Sophie HannahA deeply unsettling debut that asks the most terrifying question - what do you have left when you lose yourself?
—— Val McDermidA truly amazing debut. The central character, Christine, is beautifully drawn. It's hard to imagine a more compelling, believable and sympathetic portrayal of a damaged human being. I loved it from start to finish.
—— Mo HayderPlenty of politics, high and low and the portrayal of college life and vicious, teeming with sycophants and thick with double dealing
—— GuardianPears brings to life a vibrant 17th-century world...a tour de force
—— Daily TelegraphCrammed with period detail, it's as much a novel of ideas as it is of character
—— Val McDermid , The Week