Looking for a classic British murder mystery from a critically acclaimed crime writer? Over one million books read!

Discover Eric Ward, policeman turned lawyer. Enjoy a beautifully told story from a time before smart phones and DNA testing. Full of twists and turns, this will have you gripped from start to finish.

‘Well devised and moving.’ Financial Times

Murder on the high seas.

Eric’s wife, Anne, has followed the advice of handsome lawyer Mark Fenham and invested a small fortune in a merchant bank also involved in underwriting marine insurance. Now her company must pay out a vast insurance claim for Sea Dawn, a ship sunk in Spanish waters.

Eric Ward smells fraud. His wife could lose everything.

And then one by one, people connected to the Sea Dawn start to die. The murderous trail takes Ward to sunny Spain — where he comes face-to-face with his arch enemy.

Will ward uncover the truth about the sinking of the Sea Dawn?

This fast-paced mystery set in England in the early 1980s is perfect for fans of Peter James, Ruth Rendell, P.D. James and Peter Robinson.

Please note this book was first published as A Premium Death.

THE DETECTIVE

Eric Ward is forced to retire from the police when he discovers he suffers from glaucoma. He qualifies as a solicitor (lawyer) and sets up his practice on the Quayside in Newcastle, where he deals with the seamier side of the law. When he marries a wealthy young woman she attempts to persuade him to settle in Northumberland and work with wealthier clients but he stubbornly refuses to give up his criminal practice in Newcastle. Although she draws him into the world of high finance he still insists on continuing at the Quayside — which causes tensions within his marriage, and leads to fatal consequences.