Author:Alex Grecian
Alex Grecian's The Black Country sees the Scotland Yard Murder Squad return in a gruesome historical thriller.
When members of a prominent family disappear from a coal-mining village - and a human eyeball is discovered in a bird's nest - the local constable sends for help from Scotland Yard's new Murder Squad.
Inspector Walter Day and Sergeant Nevil Hammersmith respond, but they have no idea what they're about to get into. The villagers have intense, intertwined histories. Everybody bears a secret. Superstitions abound. And the village itself is slowly sinking into the mines beneath it.
Not even the arrival of forensics pioneer Dr. Bernard Kingsley seems to help. In fact, the more the three of them investigate, the more they realize they may never be allowed to leave. . . .
From The Yard author Alex Grecian comes The Black Country- a horrifying journey into the darkest backwoods of Victorian Britain. The Black Country is guaranteed to appeal to fans of recent Ripper TV dramas (BBC's Ripper Street, ITV's Whitechapel) as well as Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes films.
Praise for Alex Grecian:
'Will keep you riveted from page one' Jeffrey Deaver
'Outstanding. If Charles Dickens isn't somewhere clapping his hands for this, Wilkie Collins surely is.' The New York Times Book Review
Alex Grecian has worked for an ad agency on accounts for Harley-Davidson, Cub Foods, and The Great American Smokeout, before returning to writing fiction full time and raising his son. Alex is the author of the long-running and critically acclaimed comic book series Proof, and he lives in Topeka, Kansas, with his wife and son. The Yard is his first novel.
Will keep you riveted from page one
—— Jeffery DeaverCSI: Victorian London
—— Daily ExpressThrow in deranged prostitutes, poisonings and throat slittings galore, amidst lashings of London fog. Gory, lurid and tons of guilty fun
—— GuardianAs ever, Indridason’s writing combines a keen sense of place with an astringent investigation of the human psyche
—— Radio TimesA fascinating story and the resolution of Mattildur's disappearance feels authentic and believable. Readers who like retribution in their crime novels may find Erlunder's balanced, free-from-judgemental approach difficult to comprehend, but to me this was one of the most appealing aspects of the novel… I couldn't think of a more perfect way to say goodbye to one of my favourite fictional characters
—— Reading MattersTragic and compelling
—— Joan Smith , Sunday TimesThoroughly absorbing
—— Vince Cable , New StatesmanBlack Skies is one of, if not the best, of Indridason's books
—— Michael Carlson , Crime TimeIndridason is perhaps the best crime writer alive... Masterful as ever
—— Sydney Sun HeraldEssential Scandi-fiction
—— Sunday ExpressAn international literary phenomenon - and it's easy to see why. His novels are gripping, authentic, haunting and lyrical
—— HARLAN COBENNesbo is a clever writer and plotter. Over the years he has built a brilliant cast of supporting characters to orbit Hole and now it is their time to shine… Yet again, Nesbo has succeeded in producing a multi-layered and intertwining story that makes your head spin, while delivering a masterclass in suspenseful writing
—— Michelle Davies , Sunday ExpressPoliceman Harry Hole is flawed, but all the more perfect because of it… Nesbo keeps everything hanging in the balance, just the way his fans like it
—— UK Regional Press SyndicationPolice is a story replete with gory events, dark musings and a little social commentary
—— Sunday Business PostScandi-noir fans will be delighted
—— Daily ExpressComplicated, fast-moving… A skillfully put-together thriller
—— Independent on Sunday