Books in the A Charlie Woodend Mystery series

The investigation into the brutal murder of a Blackpool policeman during holiday season was never going to be easy, but the case is not Woodend's only problem. His new boss, DS Ainsworth, is just waiting for an opportunity to stick a knife in his back.

When Eddie Barnes, of popular group The Seagulls, is electrocuted on stage in front of 300 adoring fans, Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend can't understand why Eddie's mother says he had a girlfriend, while his best mate insists he didn't. And that's only the first anomaly in this strangest of cases.

Swann's Lake, 1960. When Robbie Peterson, a criminal-turned-club-owner, is found dead in his office, a six-inch nail driven deep into his skull, Chief Inspector Woodend and Sergeant Bob Rutter are brought up from London to investigate.

1950s Cheshire, England. When the strangled body of teenager Diane Thorburn is found buried in the salt store, Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend is pulled in from London to investigate.