Description

She says he’s a victim. They say he’s a killer.

When an armed man massacres several people in central London, Claudine witnesses the whole thing. To her horror, one of the victims is her brother, Jethro.

Riven by grief, Claudine retreats to the family home in the Fens, which is where the police find her. She is left reeling when they tell her Jethro orchestrated the attack. Why would a gentle, if troubled, middle-aged man cause such bloodshed – and why would he include himself in the list of victims?

The truth could lie in Jethro’s research on a mediaeval cult. If Claudine can’t solve the mystery in time, more people will die… and the darkness will claim her too.

This twisty, unrelenting thriller is perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Emma Kavanagh, and Sharon Bolton, using themes of grief to explore how people are never as straightforward as they seem.

‘Intelligent crime fiction at its very best, cleverly plotted with a scorching climax.’ Caro Ramsay
‘Staggeringly good.’ Sharon Bolton

Reviews for D.L. Mark:

‘Mark is an extraordinary talent – one of the best in the business. I adore how he writes.’ M.W. Craven
‘Dark and compelling with characters you will never forget.’ Elly Griffiths
‘Mark is a wonderfully descriptive writer.’ Peter James
‘Mark’s books are always taut, intelligent page-turners.’ Abir Mukherjee

Publisher Review

'A beautiful yet terrifying opening leads quickly to a wonderfully observed and strikingly original crime novel. DL Mark is staggeringly good.' -- Sharon Bolton 'D.L. Mark writes with a dark compassion, his great skill is interweaving this seamlessly into a compelling, twisting narrative.' -- Tim Sullivan 'Just brilliant. What I love most about D.L. Mark's writing is that it's constantly surprising - he's never succumbed to lazy or formulaic writing but each new book feels fresh and exciting as a debut, as if he's constantly striving to write better and bolder things - which of course he is. And that's why I'll always feel able to recommend him as one to watch.' -- Elizabeth Hayes PRAISE FOR D.L. MARK: 'Mark is a wonderfully descriptive writer' Peter James. 'Brilliantly written - a cracking story' Richard Madeley, Richard & Judy Book Club (on Dark Winter). 'Dark, compelling crime writing of the highest order' Daily Mail (on Darkness Falls). 'Beautifully crafted' Kirkus. 'Mark's books are always taut, intelligent page-turners' -- Abir Mukherjee