Distant Dead

The Detective's Daughter is a novel by Lesley Thomson that follows the story of Stella Darnell, a detective's daughter who unearths the truth about a murder that took place in 1940s London and a murder that took place in 2020 Tewkesbury.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 14 October 2021
Publisher: Head of Zeus

A woman lies dead in a bombed-out house, a tragic casualty of the Blitz or something more sinister? Sixty years later, the detective's daughter unearths the truth.

LONDON, 1940: Several neighbors heard the scream of the woman in the bombed-out house. One told the detective she thought the lady had seen a mouse. Another said it wasn't his business what went on behind closed doors. None of them imagined that a trusting young woman was being strangled by her lover.

TEWKESBURY, 2020: Beneath the vast stone arches of Tewkesbury Abbey, a man lies bleeding, close to death. He is the creator of a true-crime podcast that will never air. He was investigating the murder of a 1940s police pathologist – had he come closer to the truth than he realized?

Stella Darnell has moved to Tewkesbury to escape from death, not to court it. But when this man dies in her arms, Stella, impelled to root out evil when she finds it, becomes determined to hunt down his killer and bring the secrets he was searching for into the light.

Praise for The Detective's Daughter series:

"Lesley Thomson gets better and better." - Ian Rankin

"Cunningly plotted." - Mick Herron

"One of the most original characters in British crime fiction." - Sunday Times

"Thomson's plots are original, and she draws her characters with genuine affection." - Sunday Times

"In the best traditions of the classic whodunnit, this is Midsomer Murders for grown-ups." - Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express

"Gloriously well-written." - William Shaw

The Detective's Daughter series is a thrilling and suspenseful blend of historical fiction and crime fiction, set in the aftermath of World War II and the present day. Stella Darnell, the daughter of a famous detective, is drawn into a murder investigation that spans decades and takes her from the bustling streets of London to the peaceful countryside of Tewkesbury.

As Stella investigates the murder of a 1940s police pathologist, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that stretches back to the war years. She encounters a cast of characters, including a mysterious stranger who seems to know more than he is letting on, and a group of locals who are hiding their own dark secrets.

Through her investigation, Stella learns that the murder may be connected to a larger conspiracy that involves the government, the military, and even the supernatural. She must navigate a dangerous world filled with danger and betrayal as she tries to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice.

The Detective's Daughter series is a masterfully written and compelling tale that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Thomson's characters are well-developed and relatable, and her writing is elegant and evocative. The series is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, crime fiction, and mystery.

Weight: 270g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781788549776