A former Customs and Police Officer, Andrew Hill’s first book in a crime series set in the New Forest, where he lived for 30 years, will be published in Spring 2022. An avid reader across the crime genre and regular at crime writing festivals, he now lives in West Sussex and works in property.
Defence lawyer Dan Grant has a murder case dropped into his lap just two weeks before the trial, due to an alleged conflict of interest.
A bright, attractive and well-liked teacher Mary Kendrick has been killed viciously. The Police have a Robert Carter (a local married man) in the frame for the murder as the forensic evidence places him at the scene.
The housemate of the murdered woman issues a statement that tells of Carter ‘creeping’ Mary out, and virtually stalking her. Carter is offering nothing to refute this allegation.
Dan and his investigator Jayne Brett get to work to peel back the layers of deceit, convinced that Carter isn’t telling the truth and may be concealing matters. As they start digging, they uncover an interlinked web of an over-stretched police force, a slum landlord, cannabis grow-houses, witness intimidation and secret pasts and presents which are deftly revealed to the reader.
The author handles the court scenes and interviews with all the aplomb of the criminal lawyer he is by profession. The action moves swiftly and skilfully, while the characters of protagonists Dan and Jayne are well-fleshed out and three dimensional.
This is an involving well-constructed and top-quality piece of crime fiction, with an eye on the legal process.
Highly Recommended.
