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**A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SUMMER BOOKS OF 2026 PICK**

‘A deeply atmospheric tale’ The Times

‘A race against time, in every sense. A beautifully written crime thriller set against an atmospheric Brighton backdrop’ Elly Griffiths

Arthur Cotton is losing his once sharp mind to dementia. But when a body washes up on Brighton beach, fragments of his dangerous past begin to surface. Fifty years ago, he kept the books – and the secrets – of Brighton’s criminal underworld. Retirement came with one rule: to keep his mouth shut.

Susan Cotton thought she knew her father. She was wrong.

Now, old enemies are paying attention to Arthur. And Susan’s busy yet predictable life caring for others – her elderly patients, her adult daughter Ruby – is about to unravel.

To protect Arthur, Susan must turn detective and discover a Brighton she barely recognises. A city of gangsters, hidden violence and explosive lies, with every revelation pulling her family closer to danger.

Taking the reader from the smoky nightclubs of 1960s Brighton to the bustling tourist city of today, The Darkest Tide is a gripping thriller about family, memory and the deadly cost of long-buried secrets.

‘A compelling mystery with a breathtaking twist – an irresistible slice of Brighton noir’ M. J. Arlidge

‘Hanington’s vivid depiction of Brighton – from 1960s ganglands to modern streets – is paired with sharp characterisation and suspenseful plotting to create an exploration of memory, regret and the heavy cost of buried truths’ Woman

‘This is crime fiction at its best: the evocative setting, page-turning pace and cleverly woven plot’ Charlotte Philby

Publisher Review

The Darkest Tide, switchbacking between 1969 and 2019, is a deeply atmospheric tale full of "violence and fear and death." Peter Hanington has an eye for the bizarre: the split pupil in a thug's right eye, a one-winged seagull on a lead. Graham Greene, Elly Griffiths, Lynne Truss and Peter James have all raised "London's toyshop" - Brighton - in search of wicked tricks and games. He is the equal of them all. Let's call them Brighton peers * The Times * A race against time, in every sense. A beautifully written crime thriller set against an atmospheric Brighton backdrop -- Elly Griffiths, bestselling author of * The Killing Time * A compelling mystery with a breathtaking twist - an irresistible slice of Brighton noir * M. J. Arlidge, bestselling author of Into the Fire * As with all the best crime writers, Peter Hanington shines a light into the darkest corners of society, throwing into relief both the shadow and the light. This is crime fiction at its best: the evocative setting, page-turning pace and cleverly woven plot. But what stands out for me here are the characters who, even at their most brutal and flawed, are always human, and always utterly believable -- Charlotte Philby, author of * Dirty Money * A solid slice of south-coast crime . . . Susan Cotton discovers that her dementia-affected father was the bookkeeper for the Brighton mob, complicating her life dangerously * Financial Times * Full of tension and atmosphere, The Darkest Tide is novel of guilt and redemption. Hanington's often visceral writing is superb, and his plotting a masterclass -- Natalie Marlow, author of * Needless Alley * Hanington's vivid depiction of Brighton - from 1960s ganglands to modern streets - is paired with sharp characterisation and suspenseful plotting to create an exploration of memory, regret and the heavy cost of buried truths * Woman * [The] Murder of the Month is Peter Hanington's The Darkest Tide . . . a work that could enter the running for this year's "The Great British Novel" . . . a really impressive new series * The Critic * Praise for Peter Hanington-- Hanington has true talent * The Times * This adrenaline-laced adventure packs a mighty punch. * Irish Independent * Smart and topical. * Financial Times * Thoughtful, atmospheric, and grippingly plotted. * The Guardian * Peter Hanington has a journalist's nose for stories * Shots Mag * A compelling, fast-paced thriller. * Sun *