The Fatal End
by A.J. Cross

Meet Professor Teigan Craft, a neurodivergent forensic psychologist getting into the minds of Birmingham’s most twisted killers.

Even in the safest of places, a killer lurks . . .

Young nurse Riley McCarthy never made it home after her late hospital shift in the Cardiac Unit.
When forensic pathologist Professor Teigan ‘Tig’ Craft and Detective Chief Inspector Steve Thompson of West Midlands Police find Riley’s body, their focus quickly turns to her colleagues in the unit. Everyone is under suspicion, and almost everyone has a secret, including Riley herself . . .

As Craft and Thompson unravel the lives of Riley and her colleagues, they uncover scandal and dangerous ambitions, but what led to Riley’s terrible fate? One thing is clear: in a place where lives are saved every day, someone was determined to end hers.

This page-turning, suspenseful and mazey forensic mystery series set in the West Midlands is perfect for fans of Kathy Reichs and Patricia Cornwell.

Reviews

“[A] gripping, suspenseful series starter”

Booklist on The Loose End

“A promising debut for a sleuthing pair who go at it hammer and tongs”

Kirkus Reviews on The Loose End

“As usual, Cross offers a suspense-filled police procedural with engaging but flawed lead characters and well-researched insights into modern policing”

Booklist on Reflections of Deviance

“Cross builds tension while keeping a diverse cast of characters sharp and sympathetic”

Kirkus Reviews on Reflections of Deviance

“Plenty of unexpected twists sure to set pulses racing, leading to a shock ending guaranteed to blindside even the most experienced thriller reader”

Booklist Starred Review of A Dark, Divided Self

“Cross pulls no punches in a shocking tale of crime and punishment”

Kirkus Reviews on A Dark, Divided Self

“Readers will find themselves warming to Watts, Traynor, and Judd in this clever and absorbing roller-coaster ride of a procedural, and the authentic-seeming depiction of modern policing, along with a devastating conclusion, makes it a gripping and entertaining read for fans of British procedurals”

Booklist on Devil in the Detail

“A skillfully written police drama with plenty of twists”

Booklist on Dark Truths

“Outstanding . . . Cross, herself a forensic psychologist, plays fair with the reader right up to the surprising conclusion”

Publishers Weekly Starred Review of Cold, Cold Heart

A.J. Cross

A.J. Cross is a forensic psychologist with over twenty years’ experience in the field. She lives in Birmingham with her jazz-musician husband. As well as the Will Traynor series, she is the author of five Kate Hanson Cold Case mysteries.

View author page

Editions

The Fatal End by A.J. Cross is available in the following formats

Hardback97814483199611st September 2026144 X 222mm240$29.99
Hardback97814483199611st September 2026144 X 222mm240£21.99
Ebook97814483209431st September 2026N/A240£12.99
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