The Devil Stone

DCI Christine Caplan is pulled in to investigate a brutal murder in the village of Cronchie, where the Devil Stone, an heirloom rumoured to bring death if removed from their home, is the only thing stolen. The key suspects are known satanists, and when the investigating officer disappears, Caplan's life is in danger.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2023
Publisher: Canongate Books

In the quaint village of Cronchie, a wealthy family met a gruesome end, their lives brutally cut short. The only item stolen from their home, a mysterious relic known as the Devil Stone, holds a dark and sinister power, rumored to bring death upon its removal. As the investigation unfolds, the focus falls squarely on a group of known satanists, who seem to be the prime suspects. However, when the dedicated investigating officer suddenly vanishes without a trace, DCI Christine Caplan is called in to take over the case.

Caplan initially feels like she is being punished for a minor indiscretion when she is assigned to the remote Highlands, but she is determined to prove her worth and solve the murders quickly, returning home to her fractious family. As she delves deeper into the investigation, Caplan realizes that her life is now in danger, as she closes in on the truth.

The village of Cronchie is a tight-knit community, where everyone knows each other's business. Caplan must navigate through a web of lies, secrets, and betrayals, as she uncovers the dark and twisted motives behind the murders. She encounters a cast of characters, each with their own secrets and agendas, including a local priest who has a hidden past, a wealthy businessman with ties to the satanist community, and a young woman who may be the key to unlocking the mystery.

As Caplan digs deeper, she realizes that the Devil Stone is not just a relic of evil, but a weapon that can be used to control and manipulate people. The satanists are using it to gain power and control over the village, and they will stop at nothing to protect their secrets. Caplan must use all of her skills and resources to stop them before they can unleash their ultimate evil on the world.

In the end, Caplan emerges victorious, using her intelligence, bravery, and determination to bring the satanists to justice. The Devil Stone is returned to its rightful place, and the village of Cronchie is once again safe. Caplan returns home, hailed as a hero, but she knows that the scars of her experience will never fully heal. She has learned that sometimes, the line between good and evil is blurred, and that the cost of fighting for justice can be high.

Weight: 195g
Dimension: 198 x 129 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781838858889
Edition number: Main