A serial poisoner is wreaking havoc in Heckley. When the stakes are life and death, Charlie Priest is the only antidote.

The sun is shining but Priest is buried under a mountain of paperwork. Just when he’s about to lose his mind from boredom, the phone rings.

A gaunt, middle-aged man has collapsed at the local hospital — his face pale, blood streaming from his eyes and nose.

But Carl Johnson isn’t sick . . . he was given a lethal dose of rat poison.

A few days later, an elderly widow and a thirty-one week old baby are rushed to hospital when someone poisons the food at their local market.

A ruthless assailant is on the loose, leaving a deadly trail in their wake. It’s up to Priest to stop them before more lives are claimed.

This character-driven detective mystery full of wry humour is perfect for fans of Colin Dexter, Reginald Hill, J.R. Ellis, P.F. Ford and Roger Silverwood.