Meet Peter Maxwell: widower, film buff, golden-hearted cynic, bow-tied eccentric teacher . . . and reluctant amateur sleuth.

School days can be bloody murder . . .

Peter Maxwell has faced many murder scenes during his time at Leighford High. But never before has he faced murder in his own school corridors.

The school inspectors are stalking the classrooms and keeping an eagle-eye on the teachers. But before Maxwell can tell them what he thinks of their newfangled teaching methods, the lead inspector is found with a skewer through his neck in the school office.

Suspicion falls upon Headteacher, James Diamond. But as much as he dislikes the man, Maxwell believes he’s innocent — and so does DS Jacquie Carpenter.

With a killer on the school grounds, the tables have turned and now Maxwell is the one asking the inspectors questions.

Then a second inspector is murdered in the same brutal way. It’s a race against time for Maxwell to catch a serial killer before the final school bell rings.

If you love Faith Martin, Richard Osman, Ian Moore, Rob Rinder, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, Janice Hallett, M.C. Beaton or Simon Brett, prepare to be hooked by this character-driven thrilling mystery!