Alex Walters

A collection of short stories from some of your favourite authors. Do you think you know darkness? Think again. Bloodhound Books presents Dark Minds—a collection of stories by authors who have come together to produce an anthology that will lure, tantalise and shock its readers. What took place By the Water? What goes on behind A Stranger’s Eyes? And what is so special about Slow Roast Pork? From master authors such as Lisa Hall, Steven Dunne, Louise Jensen and Anita Waller, readers can expect a one hell of a ride . . . All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to Hospice UK and Sophie’s Appeal. Dark Minds is a collection of 40 crime and thriller short stories from authors including; Louise Jensen, L.J. Ross, Lisa Hall, Steven Dunne, Betsy Reavley, Alex Walters and Anita Waller plus many more. For the complete table of contents, Look Inside.

Just when you least want or expect it, the past comes looking for you...After a stake-out turns deadly, Detective Sergeant Jack Mellor's life spirals out of control. Struggling with guilt and distrust, he quits the force and retreats to the remote northern Highlands, seeking solitude. But peace is hard to find.When he is hired to investigate the suspicious disappearance of a young woman, Mellor is reluctantly drawn back into a world of corruption, crime, and deceit. As he uncovers disturbing secrets, Mellor's new life begins to unravel.Complicating matters, his ex-partner Maddie reappears, and a potential new romance is shattered. As Mellor digs deeper, he uncovers a horrifying operation, with shocking connections to those he thought he could trust.Betrayed and disillusioned, Mellor faces the darkest moments of his life. But as his world crumbles, will a glimmer of hope emerge?And in the hauntingly beautiful Highlands, with only a loyal dog for company, can Mellor overcome his demons and bring the guilty to justice?

Deadly truths lie buried beneath the snow.Three people are stranded at a pub on a winter's night – a couple, the Fairweathers, and a woman, Alison Evans. Hours later, in the middle of the night, the pub alarm begins to sound and Alison Evans is missing. Within moments, her body is discovered outside.The following day a young boy disappears while sledding with his grandfather.The two cases couldn't be more different, but as the two investigations unfold and the window for finding Lucas Pritchard narrows, the job becomes personal for one of DI Annie Delamere's team. With links between the cases that seem to make no sense, can they find their answers before time runs out?A tense and gripping crime thriller set in the Peak District, perfect for fans of Stephen Booth and Roz Watkins.Praise for Old Evils ‘Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. Full of plot twists and surprises.’ ????? Reader review‘An excellent read. The characterisation is believable, it’s well written with plenty of tension and a few twists rattling along at a fast pace. I highly recommend this series.’ ????? Reader review‘Lots of action and twists and turns. It’s a difficult book to put down, highly recommended.’ ????? Reader review

“I am a huge fan . . . this book deserves 10 stars. Fast-paced and action-packed . . . Brilliant!” —Rock Chick Fee, five starsAfter her son’s tragic death, a former cop discovers his dangerous secret life—and picks up where he left off . . . Former police officer Emma Raven has a heartbreaking task ahead of her: gathering her late son’s possessions from his Cambridge college. His death was deemed a suicide. But once she enters Paul’s room accompanied by his director of studies, Colin Gormley, and finds it’s been ransacked, she’s troubled. When this is followed by attacks against both Emma and Colin, the two flee. But the danger doesn’t stop there. Before long, the grieving mother is entangled in a deadly mystery that puts her right in the line of fire . . .

A massacre in the Scottish Highlands is far more than the family tragedy it first appears to be, in this riveting police procedural. The slaughter of the Dawson family seems to be a heartbreaking case of murder-suicide—another deeply troubled man who violently snapped and killed his wife and children before ending his own life. But DI Alec McKay doesn’t think it’s as open-and-shut as it looks. Why was a BMW parked at the Dawsons’ holiday home on that last day of tourist season—and why are its owners also now dead? Why is the new senior investigating officer acting so erratically? And most chillingly of all, who is sending out packages containing toys taken from the crime scene? Before McKay can close the case, he will have to face down a threat from the past—and a crime that could shatter his heart—in this twist-filled thriller from the acclaimed author whose previous police procedurals, written under the name Michael Walters, were praised as “pulse-pounding” (Chicago Tribune) and “compulsive reading” (The Independent).

Dark deeds in the Peak District refuse to stay buried… When a skeleton is unearthed at a building site in the village of Meresham, the police immediately link the case to a notorious missing persons investigation. Jayne Arnold was sixteen when she disappeared in the long, hot summer of 1976, and has not been seen since. Soon after the bones are found, a tragic accident occurs at an elite boarding school nearby. The young victim fell to her death from the roof of a building. Digging into the girl’s background links her to an attempted expose of donations from unsavoury individuals. When further deaths follow, does it suggest a cover up is underway? Who stood to lose most from the truth coming out? And how do recent crimes link to events from more than 45 years ago? DI Annie Delamere and her team are tasked to answer these questions, but her own mother may stand between Annie and the truth.A new instalment in the gripping and atmospheric DI Annie Delamere series that fans of Roz Watkins, Stephen Booth and Cara Hunter will love.

DI Alec McKay is back. In the depths of a cold Scottish winter, an unidentified body is found in the heart of a solstice bonfire, apparently burned alive. Over a tense Christmas, a retired businessman goes missing, his body eventually found hanging from a tree in the coastal town. Another associate is found brutally murdered in his remote Highland home. DCI Helena Grant wants to spend a romantic Christmas with her new partner, the crime writer Bill Emsworth. In her absence, DI Alec McKay and his team struggle to investigate the killings, their work hampered by staff shortages and hostile weather. As he tries to connect the murders, McKay discovers that the victims have links to a notorious investigation led by the late DI Jackie Galloway, the subject of a 'true crime' exposé written by Emsworth. When another local businessman disappears, McKay fears that Emsworth, and even Helena herself, maybe in danger. It seems the real answers lie deep in Grant's own past, and, with the killer closing in, her future becomes increasingly perilous . . . What everyone is saying about the DI Alec McKay Series: "It's impossible to put the books down until you've finished." "A series that gets better and better . . ." "Twist and turns. And likeable characters . . ." "Full of red herrings and intrigue . . ." "A crime series that you can't miss . . ." "This crime thriller will keep the reader gripped from start to finish . . ." "Brilliantly edgy and creepy . . ." Also available in the DI Alec Mckay Series: Candles and Roses Death Parts Us Their Final Act Expiry Date Alex Walters is a critically-acclaimed and best-selling crime and thriller author. For Their Sins is the 5th book in the DI Alec McKay series, but can also be read as a stand-alone. It's the perfect read for fans of atmospheric and gripping crime novels and will also appeal to fans of authors like Ann Cleeves, Peter May and Helen Fields.

A vicious murder is committed, but who has blood on their hands?On a hot summer’s afternoon, Michelle Wentworth enjoys a rare few hours of relaxation. Sunning herself by her pool, she sends her lazy teenage son to fetch her a drink. But instead of a refreshment, Michelle is given a nasty shock when shortly after her child’s bludgeoned body is discovered on the doorstep.DI Annie Delamere attends the scene, joined by DS Zoe Everett. There is nothing to suggest a motive or perpetrator. They dig into Michelle’s life and come to suspect she may have been the target. Her ruthless pursuit of profit has won her few friends, and relying on her lawyer’s questionable advice could mean she’s in over her head.When another battered body is found, Annie realises that every clue leads back to a dispute at Michelle’s business. But with so many people with reason to seek revenge, will Annie and her team look in the right places – or will it be too late?A tense and gripping crime thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page! Perfect for fans of Stephen Booth and Ann Cleeves.Praise for Alex Walters‘A talent to be reckoned with’ Daily Mail‘Accomplished storytelling and perfectly meshed plot strands combine in this intriguing new series from Alex Walters’ Margaret Kirk, author of Shadow Man

A killer is sending a message. But who is it for?DI Annie Delamere and her colleague DS Zoe Everett are off duty and enjoying a walk on the Peak District’s vast moorlands when they stumble across a mutilated corpse. The victim is unclothed and his tattoos indicate an affinity with the occult.While Annie is put in charge of the case her long-term partner, MP Sheena Pearson, is confronted by a group of far right extremists. Rather than back down Sheena chooses to stand her ground – and almost pays for it with her life.As more bodies are found, Annie is under pressure to prove her worth. But with one eye on her personal affairs can she catch a murderer and still keep her loved ones safe? And are the killings the work of a deranged mind – or a cover for something even more chilling?Don’t miss this first novel in a compelling new detective series that fans of Stephen Booth and Ann Cleeves will love. Praise for Small Mercies ‘Accomplished storytelling and perfectly meshed plot strands combine in this intriguing new series from Alex Walters’ Margaret Kirk, author of Shadow Man‘Small Mercies gets Alex Walters’ new series off to a cracking start with a blend of police procedural and conspiracy thriller set in the atmospheric landscape of Derbyshire.’ Martin Edwards, CWA Diamond Dagger winner 2020'Evocative, well plotted, with interesting characters and three concurrent mysteries. A definite 5 star read.’ NetGalley review ?????‘The storyline weaves all the seemingly unrelated threads together into a nail biting finale. I held my breath more than once, and couldn’t put the book down in case something terrible happened!’ NetGalley review ????‘Three plots swirl around each other, intersect and dance away again until the very end of this thriller where everything moves quickly to a totally unanticipated, breath-taking conclusion. I’m looking forward to the next in the series!’ NetGalley review ?????

As a detective's personal life unravels, he must piece together the clues to a baffling series of murders in this Scottish Highlands crime thriller.A family day out turns sour for DI McKay when he stumbles across an unidentified corpse. The day becomes darker still when his brother-in-law goes missing and is eventually found dead, the result of a seemingly accidental fall.Meanwhile, DCI Helena Grant has a disastrous on-line date with a senior manager of a local hotel chain whose behavior escalates from pompous to downright disturbing. And, as she arrives home, she receives a threatening text from someone who has clearly been watching her. When a further body is found at the edge of the Cromarty Firth, McKay and Grant begin to piece together a grim tale of violence, human trafficking, and the darkest family secrets.

SNOW FALLENby Alex WaltersOne winter's night, a lone figure arrives on foot in a remote Pennine village. The next morning, as the first heavy snow begins to fall, a man's body is discovered in the village churchyard. Anne Tilston, one of three sisters living in a brooding run-down house in the shadow of the church, realises that the dead man is her father, a disgraced former senior police officer long estranged from his family. As DCI Kenny Murrain's team arrive in the village to investigate the unexplained death, a further body is discovered in a nearby field - a young man from the village with no apparent connection to Tilston or his daughters. Meanwhile Murrain and DI Joe Milton are investigating the disappearance of a young woman. The case appears to be part of a string of similar missing persons cases, although with no evidence to date of foul play.With the snow continuing to fall, another body is discovered, and Murrain finds himself stranded with his team in the sisters' house with a seemingly motiveless killer waiting outside in the night. Desperately liaising with Milton, Murrain realises he has only hours to discover the truth and to prevent the murderer from killing again. And it seems the answer lies within Murrain's own team...Praise for Alex Walters'Brilliant from start to finish... one of the best police procedure books I have read.' - Bookstormer Blog'A talent to be reckoned with ... A strong story line, muscular prose and a real sense of pace...a police procedural for a new age' - Daily Mail'...Right up there with the best police procedural thrillers of the last few years. Expect to hear much more of Walters in the future.' - Mark Timlin

A serial killer is targeting washed-up entertainers in the Scottish Highlands in this gritty crime thriller by the author of Candles and Roses. Former comic Jimmy McGuire is found dead on the streets of Inverness, his body garroted. Years ago, McGuire had been half of a promising double-act until his partner, Jack Dingwall, was convicted of rape. Soon after, a second corpse is found in an abandoned industrial site on the edge of the Moray Firth—also garroted. Identified as a former musician turned record producer, it is learned that he had also been accused of rape. Meanwhile, Det. Inspector Alec McKay and Chief Inspector Helena Grant are still wrestling with the fallout from a recent case following a devastating acquittal. As the body count rises, the police think they have the killer in their sights. But McKay is concerned that the evidence is too neat. And as the trail leads to a final victim yet to come, time is running out to find the real killer.

When a retired cop is murdered on a remote Scottish Isle, DI Alec McKay must dig into the man’s corrupt past in this British crime thriller series.Twenty years ago, Jackie Galloway was a senior cop with a bad reputation. But after crossing the wrong people, his career was ruined. He eked out his last days succumbing to dementia on Scotland's Black Isle, supported by his long-suffering wife, Bridie. When he’s found dead, the police assume it’s an accident—until Bridie reveals that he’s been receiving mysterious letters containing only the phrase: “NOT FORGOTTEN. NOT FORGIVEN.” Struggling to come to terms with the loss of his estranged wife Chrissie, DI Alec McKay is living in isolation on the Black Isle. McKay had once worked for Galloway as a junior officer and has bad memories of the man and his methods. Now he finds himself investigating Galloway's death. But when suspicion falls on him and more police officers are murdered, the pressure is on for McKay to solve the case.

DARK CORNERS The past is never dead... A missing child's body is found on the edge of the Peak District. As DCI Kenny Murrain and his team investigate, more attempted child abductions are reported. Murrain's instincts tell him this is a community with secrets, and those secrets have their roots deep in the past. Unexpected connections surface as he uncovers mysteries long buried. A motorcycle accident in the nearby hills. The unexplained death of a local prison governor. And a high-profile child killing two decades before. Then another child goes missing, and Murrain and his team must race to identify the killer before the past catches up with them and it's too late... Praise for Alex Walters 'Brilliant from start to finish... one of the best police procedure books I have read.' - Bookstormer Blog 'A talent to be reckoned with ... A strong story line, muscular prose and a real sense of pace...a police procedural for a new age' - Daily Mail '...Right up there with the best police procedural thrillers of the last few years. Expect to hear much more of Walters in the future.' - Mark Timlin

In this gritty crime thriller set in the Scottish Highlands, a detective’s hunt for a serial killer leads him to confront his own past.Haunted by the loss of his daughter, Detective Inspector Alec McKay obsesses over a missing person case that’s going nowhere. But that investigation is interrupted when bodies start appearing on the Scottish Black Isle—each with roses and candles placed around it. As McKay and his team begin to identify a disturbing pattern behind the killings, the killer’s twisted intentions remain allusive. Meanwhile, the young woman who discovered the first victim has begun an investigation of her own—one that catches McKay’s attention, and possibly the killer’s as well. As the case unfolds, McKay is forced to face his own demons. Now, to catch the killer, McKay must untangle a nightmarish web of truth and lies.

They’re above the law and they’re watching her every move… A compulsively readable thriller, perfect for fans of Mark Billingham and Peter Robinson. The lines between good and bad are indistinguishable… On the North Wales coast two people traffickers are brutally murdered; a drug dealer is mown down in inner-city Stockport and in a remote Pennine cottage a police informant is shot dead. Seemingly random, these murders are the work of one professional hitman. Reluctantly, Marie Donovan takes on another undercover role and finds herself working with DI Jack Brennan, a high-flying detective with a tarnished career. Soon, mistrustful of each other and their superiors, both begin to suspect that they are mere pawns in a complex game of criminal rivalry and police corruption. As Marie struggles to uncover the truth, she realises that nothing is as it seems. With every move, she draws the threat ever closer until ultimately the killer is watching Marie herself. Out on her own, she finds herself with no friends, no-one to trust and nowhere to hide.