Tom Killgannon

The Cornish village of St. Petroc is the sort of place where people come to hide. Tom Killgannon is one such person. An ex–undercover cop, Tom is in the Witness Protection Program hiding from some very violent people, and St. Petroc offers him a chance to live a safe and quiet life. Until he meets Lila. Lila is a seventeen-year-old runaway. When she breaks into Tom's house, she takes more than just his money. His wallet holds everything about his new identity. He also knows that Lila is in danger from the travelers' commune she has been living at. Something sinister has been going on there, and Lila knows more than she realizes. But to find her, he risks not only giving away his location to the gangs he's in hiding from but also becoming a target for whoever is hunting Lila. "Waites brings all his storytelling talent and experience to this chilling tale, with results so spectacular I might never go to Cornwall again." "A guaranteed thrill ride…Keeps you guessing until the end." "A strong plot, a formidable air of menace, and the avoidance of hillbilly horror cliché add up to a superbly executed cautionary tale about the malevolent force of parochialism." "Author Martyn Waites deftly switches from pen to mic for his exciting, sometimes terrifying, mystery set in rural Cornwall…Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award." "It was only a matter of time before the first post-Brexit crime novel appeared, and readers should be grateful that it's in the capable hands of Martyn Waites…Waites's taste for English gothic is in the mix here, as are some masterful plot revelations." "Stark, creepy, and gripping until the final page, The Old Religion is a dark tale of English Noir set amidst the stormy English countryside, one teeming with horrific superstition." "Waites is known for dark thrillers, a reputation he lives up to here. The brooding Killgannon will strike a chord with fans of Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie." "The tangled cast seeks refuge in a dark and menacing place in Waites's gripping, gothic-tinged series debut." "A raw, deftly plotted thriller with a dark heart and a real emotional punch." "A chilling slice of country noir. Great stuff." "Authentically spooky, thrillingly atmospheric, and unnervingly relevant. It reads like The Wicker Man for the Brexit era." "Delivers plenty of adventure, darkness, action, and suspense. Alongside the Brexit cynicism it's also got about two crow skulls' worth of sinister…The storytelling is strong throughout, and as the two unstoppable forces of Tom Killgannon and Morrigan are drawn onto a collision course there's no way you'll be able to put The Old Religion down until all is resolved."

Tom Killgannon, ex–undercover police officer and now in witness protection, is recalled to active service by a local police task force, headed by DS Sheridan. His mission is to befriend notorious child killer Noel Cunningham and find out where he buried the bodies of his final two victims. The catch? Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor Prison itself. Undercover and with no backup, Tom soon runs into danger. In the prison is convicted gangster Dean Foley. He used to run Manchester's biggest gang, until Tom's testimony put him away for life. He recognizes Tom, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game as Tom fights for survival before Foley can get his revenge. But why can't Tom reach DS Sheridan, and what is the real reason he has been sent to Blackmoor Prison? "A deftly plotted, gripping, pulse-racing roller coaster of a thriller. If you haven't read Martyn Waites before, then you're in for a real treat. Stunning." "Waites's pacing and plotting are deft and his prose sleek." "Relentlessly tense…Waites's analysis of the bleak histories and psyches of his diverse and deeply developed characters is spot on."

When his song is over, so are you Under a starless winter night in rural Cornwall, four killers dressed in bizarre folkloric garb brutally invade the home of the wealthy West family. They destroy the posh house and kill the terrified family. All but one: traumatized seventeen-year-old Simon manages to escape, fleeing through snowy woods. Later, fears that he's an active target of madmen or criminals lead the police to once more come knocking on Tom Killgannon's door: Will he watch over Simon until a more secure place is found for the boy? An ex–undercover cop now living in witness protection, Tom's turned his back on his violent past. Living in seclusion in his coastal cottage alongside his adoptive daughter, Lila, he also has a romance blossoming with local tavern owner, Pearl Ellacott. Tom's reluctant to shelter Simon, but the boy comes to stay, and villains are soon circling the cottage like vultures. When there's a break-in late one night, Tom must protect his own. The ensuing violence disrupts the household harmony: a rift opens up as Pearl fears a life with Tom will be forever plagued by violence. Meanwhile, a local by-election in this economically depressed part of the country arouses dangerous nativist sentiments. Simon falls into the clutches of a fanatical political cult that sees a way to brainwash him and use him for their own ends. To save the boy, Tom must summon from within the violent man he once was, risking the new life he created to face down the most lethal of foes. "The Gravedigger's Song delivers a thrilling ride and an action-packed ending." "A deftly plotted, gripping, pulse-racing roller coaster of a thriller. If you haven't read Martyn Waites before, then you're in for a real treat. Stunning." "Waites brings all his storytelling talent and experience to this chilling tale, with results so spectacular I might never go to Cornwall again."

Welcome to the dark heart of Cornwall. Book 1: The Old Religion The Cornish village of St. Petroc is the sort of place where people come to hide. Tom Killgannon is one such person. But when a seventeen-year-old runaway named Lila breaks into Tom's house, she takes more than just his money. His wallet holds everything about his new identity. He also knows that Lila is in danger from the travelers' commune she has been living at. Something sinister has been going on there, and Lila knows more than she realizes. But to find her, he risks not only giving away his location to the gangs he's in hiding from but also becoming a target for whoever is hunting Lila. Book 2: The Sinner Tom Killgannon, ex–undercover police officer and now in witness protection, is recalled to active service by a local police task force, headed by DS Sheridan. His mission is to befriend notorious child killer Noel Cunningham and find out where he buried the bodies of his final two victims. The catch? Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor Prison itself. Undercover and with no backup, Tom soon runs into danger. But why can't he reach DS Sheridan, and what is the real reason he has been sent to Blackmoor Prison? Book 3: The Gravedigger's Song Under a starless winter night in rural Cornwall, four killers dressed in bizarre folkloric garb brutally murder the terrified West family. All but one: traumatized seventeen-year-old Simon manages to escape. Later, fears that he's an active target of madmen or criminals lead the police to once more come knocking on ex–undercover cop Tom Killgannon's door. Tom is reluctant to shelter Simon, but villains are soon circling the cottage like vultures. When there's a break-in late one night, Tom must protect his own. Meanwhile, a local by-election arouses dangerous nativist sentiments. When Simon falls into the clutches of a fanatical political cult that see a way to brainwash him, Tom must summon the violent man he once was. "Waites brings all his storytelling talent and experience to this chilling tale, with results so spectacular I might never go to Cornwall again." A guaranteed thrill ride…Keeps you guessing until the end." "A deftly plotted, gripping, pulse-racing roller coaster of a thriller. If you haven't read Martyn Waites before, then you're in for a real treat. Stunning." "The Gravedigger's Song delivers a thrilling ride and an action-packed ending."