Looking for a classic British murder mystery from a critically acclaimed crime writer?

Discover Eric Ward, policeman turned lawyer. Over one million books read!

‘Page-turning suspense, unexpected twists and an electric energy.’ Kirkus

If it seems too good to be true. It probably is.

Farmer Paddy Fenton faces financial ruin as a result of foot and mouth disease among his flock.

Then he gets an offer that he can’t refuse: ready cash to rent one of his outbuildings.

He doesn’t enquire too closely as to what is happening there until a police raid uncovers a sinister operation.

Eric Ward agrees to represent Fenton and soon finds himself in a bitter turf war. The criminal network stretches far beyond the local Northumberland countryside.

Botched operations, a divided and corrupt workforce, and a bleak landscape filled with desperate and disillusioned characters provide the backdrop for Ward’s chilling journey into the dark underworld of the north.

It’s not always clear who’s running, or exactly what they’re running from.

This gripping, well-crafted mystery is perfect for fans of Peter James, Ruth Rendell, P.D. James and Peter Robinson.

Please note this book was first published as Dead Man Running.

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.