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A retirement plan gone wrong.
Lawrence Mains is rich — and ready to vanish. The property tycoon has his retirement planned out and it means leaving the country.
But days before he plans to disappear, he’s found dead in a remote Northumberland forest, his body blown apart by a shotgun.
DI Pen Darling quickly finds that Mains had plenty of enemies, with no shortage of motives. His retirement plan rested on cutting his business partners out of lucrative deals and the only relationship he had with his sons was when they needed money.
And his estranged wife stands to inherit everything . . .
Pen knows that someone in this tangle of enemies, lovers and family was desperate enough to kill.
And Lawence Mains might just be their first victim.
Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, P.D. James and L.J. Ross.
MEET DETECTIVE PENELOPE DARLING
DI Penelope ‘Pen’ Darling is sharp, relentless and rooted in her Northumbrian heritage. She has a conventional background – her father was a solicitor and her mother a housewife – and they don''t approve of her career choice. But Pen knows she’s a good detective and her cases are fuelled by her commitment to seeking justice. Known for her battered leather notebook, wry humour and an overreliance on strong coffee and liquorice, Pen has a knack for seeing patterns others miss. She channels her personal struggles into an unshakable determination to uncover the truth — no matter how dangerous.
THE SETTING
Northumberland is a place of contrasts — from the bleak, windswept moors where the heather bends under a relentless sky, to the tight-knit villages where everyone knows everyone else’s secrets. Stone farmhouses crouch against the weather, isolated and silent, while just a short drive away Newcastle thrums with neon, money, and menace. It is a region where old grudges linger as long as the peat bogs hold their secrets — and where murder feels as much a part of the landscape as the shifting mist.
READERS LOVE THE DETECTIVE PEN DARLING SERIES:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Brill! Really enjoyed it . . . spot on with the shenanigans up there with the criminals. Excellent read.’ Donna
⭐️⭐️���️⭐️⭐️ ‘Great cast of characters and an excellent storyline. Being set in and around Newcastle makes it more enjoyable and real.’ Kindle Customer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐''⭐️ ‘Loved the characters, particularly Darling. 10/10.’ Lennybenny
''️⭐���⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I'll definitely be keeping my eye on this series.''' Emily G.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Great story, couldn't put it down.’ Claire B.
⭐���⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Gripping noir gangster novel set in Newcastle. A great start to a new series.’ Pi 1991
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A gripping, utterly authentic crime thriller . . . gritty, character-driven, and steeped in Tyneside’s stark contrasts.’ Crimefictionfan
Genre: Mystery
Lawrence Mains is rich — and ready to vanish. The property tycoon has his retirement planned out and it means leaving the country.
But days before he plans to disappear, he’s found dead in a remote Northumberland forest, his body blown apart by a shotgun.
DI Pen Darling quickly finds that Mains had plenty of enemies, with no shortage of motives. His retirement plan rested on cutting his business partners out of lucrative deals and the only relationship he had with his sons was when they needed money.
And his estranged wife stands to inherit everything . . .
Pen knows that someone in this tangle of enemies, lovers and family was desperate enough to kill.
And Lawence Mains might just be their first victim.
Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, P.D. James and L.J. Ross.
MEET DETECTIVE PENELOPE DARLING
DI Penelope ‘Pen’ Darling is sharp, relentless and rooted in her Northumbrian heritage. She has a conventional background – her father was a solicitor and her mother a housewife – and they don''t approve of her career choice. But Pen knows she’s a good detective and her cases are fuelled by her commitment to seeking justice. Known for her battered leather notebook, wry humour and an overreliance on strong coffee and liquorice, Pen has a knack for seeing patterns others miss. She channels her personal struggles into an unshakable determination to uncover the truth — no matter how dangerous.
THE SETTING
Northumberland is a place of contrasts — from the bleak, windswept moors where the heather bends under a relentless sky, to the tight-knit villages where everyone knows everyone else’s secrets. Stone farmhouses crouch against the weather, isolated and silent, while just a short drive away Newcastle thrums with neon, money, and menace. It is a region where old grudges linger as long as the peat bogs hold their secrets — and where murder feels as much a part of the landscape as the shifting mist.
READERS LOVE THE DETECTIVE PEN DARLING SERIES:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Brill! Really enjoyed it . . . spot on with the shenanigans up there with the criminals. Excellent read.’ Donna
⭐️⭐️���️⭐️⭐️ ‘Great cast of characters and an excellent storyline. Being set in and around Newcastle makes it more enjoyable and real.’ Kindle Customer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐''⭐️ ‘Loved the characters, particularly Darling. 10/10.’ Lennybenny
''️⭐���⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘I'll definitely be keeping my eye on this series.''' Emily G.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Great story, couldn't put it down.’ Claire B.
⭐���⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘Gripping noir gangster novel set in Newcastle. A great start to a new series.’ Pi 1991
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ‘A gripping, utterly authentic crime thriller . . . gritty, character-driven, and steeped in Tyneside’s stark contrasts.’ Crimefictionfan
Genre: Mystery
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