Jessica Russell

The husband of a prominent and infamously ruthless barrister is found in horrific condition after a robbery and brutal assault. Now in a coma, a major investigation is launched using the newly formed, experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit. Jessica Russell is an experienced CSI with degrees in psychology and criminology with an exceptional Masters in Investigative psychology and behaviour analysis. But Jessica's first job as team leader of MSCAN is entirely new to her: to bring together a team of three trusted officers. The four of them have dealt with every kind of murder and major crime scene - their expertise ranges from forensic DNA to blood splatter analysis, digital forensics and beyond. Now they must piece together the complex puzzle at the heart of this brutal crime. If it was a robbery gone horrifically wrong, what was so important to have been stolen? Like with any new police department, there is immense pressure for instant results. One careless decision, one wrong accusation from Jessica or her team and their superiors would be all too happy to close down MSCAN for good. Lynda La Plante (Author) Lynda La Plante was born in Liverpool. She is the author of over forty novels, all of which have been bestsellers. She trained for the stage at RADA and worked with the National theatre and RSC before becoming a television actress. She then turned to writing - and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful TV series Widows. Lynda's original script for the much-acclaimed Prime Suspect won awards from BAFTA, Emmys, British Broadcasting and Royal Television Society as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Award. Lynda is an honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Best Writer's Award in 2000. In 2008, she was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List for services to Literature, Drama and Charity. Lynda La Plante is the first layperson to be awarded an honorary fellowship to the Forensic Science Society. In 2020 she launched the acclaimed Listening to the Dead podcast with former CSI Cass Sutherland, exploring forensic science and its impact on solving crimes. The brand-new forensic thriller series from legendary crime writer Lynda La Plante. BRAND-NEW SERIES: A new launch featuring a female, fast-tracked detective leading filled with pulse-pounding drama and forensic detail. Guaranteed to please existing fans and broaden Lynda's reach to a new generation of crime readers AUTHOR EXPERTISE: Lynda is a fellow of the Society of Forensic Scientists and will use her expert knowledge to ensure the book includes all the latest developments in the field, lending authenticity to the drama THE QUEEN OF CRIME DRAMA: With over 50 bestselling novels, over 5 million copies sold in the UK alone, and a member of The Crime Thriller Awards Hall of Fame, Lynda is truly crime fiction royalty. She is responsible for over 170 hours of primetime TV, including the perennially popular Prime Suspect, and her classic crime hit Widows was recently adapted by Steve McQueen. YEAR OF LYNDA: Zaffre has a packed publishing schedule for Lynda including new releases, second formats and reissues of currently unavailable titles. Lynda's work will be unmissable in 2025.