D.I. Isabel Blood

No secret can stay buried forever... As the Whitworth family begin renovations on their new home, their plans are brought to an abrupt end when they discover a body buried in the back garden. DI Isabel Blood and her team are called to investigate, but as she approaches Ecclesdale Drive, a feeling of unease settles in her gut. The property cordoned off is number 23. The house she used to live in as a child... The forensic team estimate that the body has been in the ground for up to forty years — coinciding with the time Isabel's family lived in the house. Isabel's father vanished without a trace when she was fourteen years old. And with her mother remaining tight-lipped about her father's disappearance, Isabel can't escape the unnerving sense of dread that it's his body, buried in the garden. Fans of Ann Cleeves, Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths will love In Cold Blood! • Jane Bettany is the winner of the HQ Gransnet competition, where HQ were looking for new authors writing about characters over 40. The editor of Gransnet Cari Rosen, HQ author Sarah Morgan and books journalist Nina Pottell were all judges for the prize. • Jane is willing to write short stories or features if required. • Press release announcing Jane's deal with HQ has been already circulated with the Bookseller.

You can cover up the truth, but every murder leaves a trail... The rain was relentless. It stung Ruth Prendergast's face as she dashed towards her house, desperate to escape the cold and settle down for an early night. But upon entering her bedroom, she finds a man, lying on her bed—a knife buried in his chest. When Detective Isabel Blood and her sergeant arrive on the scene, Ruth claims she's never laid eyes on the victim before. But with no sign of a break-in, how did the killer gain access to the house? Then Ruth disappears, leaving Isabel and her team to fear the worst. Has their lead suspect escaped, or is Ruth in danger herself? Forensic evidence at the crime scene is sparse, and it's proving impossible for Isabel to make a breakthrough. With Ruth still missing, time is running out. But how can you catch a killer that doesn't leave a trace? Uncover the mystery and solve the crime alongside Derbyshire's best detective. This utterly gripping, unputdownable whodunit will have you hooked and reading long into the night! Fans Val McDermid, Elly Griffiths, and ITV's Vera will love “Without a Trace.”

Fans of Vera, Val McDermid and Elly Griffiths will love “Last Seen Alive!” When Anna Matheson fails to collect her son from the babysitter after a works party, the police are swiftly called. Anna is a stickler for time and a good mother, she would never abandon her baby. Her disappearance is totally out of character and DI Isabel Blood, and her team soon suspect foul play. CCTV footage shows Anna was last seen at precisely 11.11pm, as she collected her coat to leave the party. But the cameras outside the venue have failed to pick up her exit from the car park—how could she have vanished in plain sight? Rumour has it that Anna was set to make big changes in the workplace, and Isabel can't help but think someone wanted her out of the way. Everyone at the party is a suspect, and all the clues point to murder...