In England's East Midlands, a harried police detective juggles multiple cases that soon reveal the depths of human depravity . . . DI Tim Yates has been following up for months on reports of missing farm machinery—with no success—when a local farmer and philanthropist is physically assaulted. Could this be a lead? If so, it doesn't take Yates very far, since the victim, Jack Fovargue, refuses to accept any help. Meanwhile, there's a more urgent case to attend to—a decapitated body has been found in the Fossdyke Canal. This may be the first clue that finally connects a series of recent disappearances: a paper girl out on her rounds; a prostitute abducted off the street; an immigrant woman who vanished after stepping off a bus. After frogmen find two more corpses in the canal, and Yates's researcher wife notes a similarity to a long-ago case someone is already in prison for, the situation starts becoming as murky as the canal itself . . .

Shocking evidence is unearthed in the cellar of a British couple's mansion—and the crimes of the past may lead to tragedy in the present . . . Its name is Laurieston, but the villagers call it Sausage Hall—a Victorian mansion belonging to tycoon businessman Kevan de Vries and his ailing wife, Joanna. The couple are staying at their St. Lucia house until Kevan gets a call from DI Tim Yates saying that the mansion has been broken into—and insisting that Kevan return to the United Kingdom to explain the passport-forging operation the police have discovered in the cellar. Kevan knows nothing about the illicit activity and is horrified about the human remains that are also eventually unearthed at Laurieston. As he tries to take care of Joanna and their autistic son, Kevan fears that the investigation may reveal a different kind of crime, one he committed long ago. And as the South Lincolnshire police dig deeper, will shocking events both historical...

The fifth novel in the DI Yates series Eighteen-year-old Ayesha Verma disappears from her home in Spalding just a few days after her parents have introduced her to the cousin they've arranged for her to marry. There has been a nation-wide police campaign to raise awareness of 'honour killings'. Conditioned by this, DI Tim Yates and Superintendent Thornton are convinced that Ayesha has been murdered for refusing the arranged marriage. Tim throws himself enthusiastically into preparations for a trip to India to interview the cousin. He first travels to London to visit his rather louche old friend, DI Derry Hacker, at the Met. Hacker introduces Tim to DC Nancy Chappell, an unconventional expert on honour killings. When Tim arrives at King's Cross he thinks that he hears the voice of Peter Prance, a confidence trickster whom he last encountered when he was investigating the murder of Kathryn Sheppard several years before. He's unable to follow the man because he's...

Guy Maichment, a landscape gardener, pays a late-night visit to his aunt, Dame Claudia McRae, the well-known veteran archaeologist who lives in an isolated cottage near Helpston, and sees that her front door is wide open. When he enters the house he discovers that his aunt has vanished, leaving no clue of what has happened to her except a broad smear of blood on her hall wall. The Spalding Archaeological Society is holding its annual conference at the Welland Manor Hotel nearby. Alex Tarrant, its attractive Secretary, is about to embark upon an affair with Edmund Baker, the County Archaeologist. Edmund and Oliver Sparham, the County Heritage Officer, were both Claudia's protègès in their youth. Oliver visits her on the day of her disappearance, making him the last known person to see her alive. Detective Inspector Tim Yates is detailed by his boss to investigate, even though Helpston is outside the area normally served by South Lincolnshire police. He is frustrated at therefore...

This novel is a psychological thriller as well as a compelling crime read.The discovery of the skeleton of a young woman by workmen causes Detective Inspector Tim Yates to reopen the gruesome case of Dorothy Atkins, a woman who was imprisoned for murdering her mother-in-law, Doris Atkins, more than thirty years before. What is the link between the skeleton and Dorothy Atkins, now the aged inmate of a care home? Her former husband, Ronald, and her son, Hedley, each appears to have something to hide, and both only grudgingly co-operate with the police. What happened to Bryony Atkins, Dorothy's and Ronald's daughter, and why is everyone so reluctant to talk about her? Hedley Atkins has recently allowed a relatively new friend, Peter Prance, to move into his flat, and he is introduced to Peter's family in Liverpool. Is Peter simply a persuasive upper class scrounger, or is there something more calculated in his relationship with Hedley? Did Dorothy in...

Sausage Hall is home to millionaire Kevan de Vries, grandson of a Dutch immigrant farmer. De Vries has built up a huge farming and food packing empire which extends, via the banana trade, to the West Indies. Sleazy MD, Tony Sentance, persuades de Vries to branch out into the luxury holiday trade and De Vries and wife, Joanna, take the first cruise out. But back home a break in at Sausage Hall uncovers a gruesome historical discovery and soon DI Yates is called in as a young employee of de Vries is found dead in the woods at Sandringham. This third outing for DI Yates tackles the exploitation of African women in the nineteenth century and draws parallels with the exploitation of Eastern European women in the 21st.

It is a foggy day. Ruby Grummett, a railway crossing keeper, opens the gates for a council lorry, thinking that the Skegness train has been cancelled, but it comes looming through the mists and hits the lorry, which is flung into the air. The train is derailed, one man is killed and another seriously injured, and Ruby's house is destroyed. Is Ruby to blame for the accident, or was it caused by the railway company's failure to warn that the train was late? DI Yates visits Ruby in hospital in an attempt to find out. There he meets her husband Bob and daughters Kayleigh and Philippa. Kayleigh, short and squat like her mother, works in a local factory. Philippa, tall and very blonde, attends Boston Grammar School. Bob is shifty and seems to be hiding something from the police. Both his brother Ivan and Councillor Start, a prominent local man, are helping him. Meanwhile, the head teacher at Spalding High School is strangely unconcerned when a prowler is reported loitering outside the...

Blush sensuality level: This is a sensual romance (may have explicit love scenes, but not erotic in frequency or type)Bianca dreams of a man who will love her for herself and not her money. When her stepmother's jealousy leads to an unending stream of suitors vying for her hand in marriage, Bianca fears her dreams are over.With the arrival of the dark and sexy Draco, the Black Dragon, Bianca plays the role of servant instead of a young lady of the castle to see where his true interests lie. But her deceptions lead to feelings she has never had before. Bianca is determined to have her dragon, but her stepmother has other plans.Draco doesn't deny his physical need to bed the lovely Bianca. Rather than give in to his desires, he threatens to ride away; however, his honor demands he stay and protect her from the lethal attentions of others. The first problem is figuring out who wants her dead. The second is opening his heart to love.Inside Scoop: This medieval tale of French...