The Wrong Man

For 2026, the first book in a new series of gripping and twisty PI crime thriller novels

A new PI. A dead rockstar. A tangled web of secrets.

A new PI. A dead rockstar. A tangled web of secrets.

When Ethan Adler set up his new PI agency in central Manchester, he wasn’t expecting his first case to be so high profile – investigating the mysterious death of rock star Dylan Vy.

Ethan has been avoiding the spotlight ever since his beloved wife Maggie’s untimely passing. His grief has been complicated by rumours that Maggie was pregnant with another man’s child at the time of her fatal accident. And because said accident took place just hours after Ethan won the lottery, a cloud of suspicion has followed Ethan ever since.

With the help of his assistant Amelia, Ethan throws himself into uncovering the truth about Dylan Vy. In a fast-escalating investigation, they uncover a labyrinth of secrets, lies and deadly connections between bandmates, girlfriends and a volatile manager. And when Dylan's unreleased music is leaked on the dark web, speculation swirls that the lyrics contain hidden clues that might lead to the killer. But who leaked these songs, and what is their secret motive? In the midst of a media frenzy and a storm of fan conspiracy theories, who can Ethan trust?

As Ethan digs deeper, he must also confront his own demons — the lingering questions about Maggie’s death and the growing realisation that those closest to him may have played a role…

'The Wrong Man is everything you want in a British private investigator novel. It's fun and fast-paced with a plot that never lets up. Add a pair of mismatched PI’s – the troubled Ethan Adler and the quirky Amelia Hope – to the affectionately drawn Manchester music scene and you have a sure-fire hit on your hands. Highly recommended.' M W Craven

'Chris McDonald’s multi-millionaire, Skoda-driving, suspected-of-wife-murdering private eye Ethan Adler is a breath of fresh air. A (literal) rock and roll plot, a gritty Manchester backdrop, and a dark sense of fun … A slice of contemporary PI noir to delight fans of the genre.' Vaseem Khan

'I absolutely loved The Wrong Man. Pacy and addictive, with wonderfully realised characters and a genius central premise,...read more...