An Accidental Death
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Cornerstone
Published:30th Apr '26
Should be back in stock very soon
Get ready to be hooked by the thrilling and atmospheric murder mystery from the million-copy-selling crime writer, where an experienced detective’s unorthodox methods land him in troubled waters...
'Pitch-perfect crime writing.' DAILY EXPRESS
'Had me gripped from the very start to the extremely satisfying ending.' ***** Reader Review
'Where has Peter Grainger been my whole life?' ***** Reader Review
'I read a LOT of murder mysteries and this series is one of the best!' ***** Reader Review
When a young man drowns after a boisterous party in a small riverside town, his friends and family report it to the Kings Lake police as a devastating accident.
DC Smith, newly returned from leave, and the young, ambitious trainee Christopher Waters are assigned to the case as a routine investigation. But the post-mortem reveals violent injuries, witnesses give contradictory accounts of the events leading up to the drowning and locals seem determined to redirect their attention.
Becoming increasingly suspicious of institutional caution and external interference, Smith and Waters strike out on their own. As they get closer to the truth, they realise the danger is not quite over.
'Ensconced in Kings Lake, in the company of Smith and his team, I didn’t want to leave.' FINANCIAL TIMES
'The books are comforting, the writing is subtle and the plots are gripping.' THE TIMES
Once I was ensconced in Kings Lake, in the company of Smith and his team, I didn’t want to leave … What sets Grainger’s books apart from the typical police procedural is the fully realised characters, who appear to live in a gentler world, on a time continuum that makes sense, progressing and evolving from book to book. * Financial Times *
The books are comforting, the writing is subtle and the plots are gripping. * The Times *
Excellent ... the gruff and uncompromising Smith is a copper in the spirit of George Gently and John Rebus -- that is, complicated and not cartoonish ... readers will be eager for the next instalment. * Publishers Weekly, Starred review *
A compelling read. Readers new to the series will look forward to seeing where the mentor-mentee relationship between Smith and Waters goes, as well as learning more about Smith and his storied, albeit controversial, career. * Booklist *
A terrific police procedural series, up there with Bosch, Morse, Pascoe and Dalziel. * Reader review *
An excellent, intelligent and believable crime series which only gets better as the characters develop. * Reader review *
This series is a delightful read … I am so looking forward to reading them all! * Reader review *
I loved it. Smith is an amazing creation, and I can’t believe that no mainstream publishers grabbed the book when it first came out. -- David Prestidge
Perfect for readers who like thoughtful, well written crime fiction [...] A deeply satisfying read for anyone who enjoys crime fiction with real substance and a strong sense of authenticity. -- Anne Cater * Mature Times *
ISBN: 9781804961384
Dimensions: 196mm x 128mm x 24mm
Weight: 256g
352 pages