DI Matthew Stannard

London, 1930. The tranquillity of suburban Craynebrook is disturbed when a lifeless and nameless body is found dumped on the local common. Enter newly promoted Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard, a policeman with a reputation that precedes him and which threatens to drag him down. As Matthew embarks on his investigation, an another, more sinister plot demands his attention. One by one, members of an esteemed social club are meeting an untimely demise, leaving their community in a state of panic that they might be next. With the stakes higher than ever before, Matthew is under immense pressure from above to solve the case before the killer strikes again. As the bodies pile up, Matthew's career and reputation hang in the balance. Will he be able to catch the killer and restore his standing in the force or will this case be his downfall?

Could a cold case murder hold the key to a recent brutal killing? Spring 1930. In the quiet streets of Craynebrook, a sinister presence lurks in the shadows, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting women of the suburban London town. After every attack, the assailant disappears into the night, leaving behind no trace, no witnesses, and no clues for Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard to investigate. Until one attack turns deadly, and a reporter suggests a connection to a local, unsolved murder. Matthew's willing to consider there might be a connection between the two killings, but his fellow policemen are doubtful there's anything to be gained by digging up an old murder. As Matthew's suspect list grows longer, and with a dearth of tangible evidence, he's forced to consider they could be right and his confidence in his ability to find the murderer wavers. Should Matthew search for a motive in a forgotten murder mystery and risk being led down the wrong path? Or should his investigation stay focused on the recent killing and risk going nowhere?

A detective hunting a killer and fighting for his own survival! In a neglected corner of Craynebrook lies Blackbird Farm, a ramshackle relic of the previous century. One chilly October morning, the farmer's dead body is found, his blood soaking into the mud of the farm track. The horrific wounds on his body can only mean murder! Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard, only just back at work after suffering a brutal attack, can hardly believe he has another murderer to find. The attack has left Matthew physically weak and mentally scarred, but he knows he will need all his powers of investigation to solve the mystery and find the farmer's killer. Meanwhile, his attack has aroused the interest of the female public. As well as being hunted by his attacker, Matthew is also being pursued by one particularly persistent correspondent. A chance meeting with her forces him to defend himself against a complaint that will not only tarnish his reputation but could see him thrown out of the police force forever.

A shocking murder and a vigilante public out for revenge! October 1930. Shots ring out in the auditorium of a small-town cinema and when the doors are opened, a sickening crime scene greets the eyes of the horror-struck staff. The gunman has fled, leaving behind him a host of dead and dying cinemagoers and many unanswered questions. Who was the killer? What was his motive for the shooting? And just who were his intended victims? Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard is on leave when the police are summoned, but this murder case is so big, the detective leading the investigation needs all the help he can get. When a series of mistakes leads to Matthew being put in charge of the case, he's happy to have another murder to solve, but he should be careful of what he wishes for. Precious time has been wasted and clues, not to mention suspects, are thin on the ground. His reputation for catching killers means everyone expects him to find the gunman, but as the days pass with no arrest being made, the public grows restless and takes matters into their own hands. The race is on. Will Matthew catch the killer first, or will the mob?

December 1930. After a year of bloodshed and scandal, the police officers of Craynebrook are hoping for a quiet Christmas. But when the bodies of an elderly couple are discovered in their home on Christmas morning, they realise there will be no peace this holiday season. Detective Inspector Matthew Stannard is called to lead the case, but he's barely holding himself together. Still haunted by a brutal assault that nearly ended his life, Matthew is feeling isolated and exhausted and, for the first time in his career, reluctant to take on a complex murder investigation. Then a detective from Essex County Police arrives in Craynebrook, demanding help to track down a child abductor who has been plaguing his Force for years. But Matthew's in no mood to cooperate with an arrogant, ambitious outsider. And when the Essex detective begins interfering in Matthew's investigation, a clash becomes inevitable.