Quintin Jardine

Can Skinner surmount the greatest challenge of his life... and if he does, will he ever be the same? A thrilling novel in the hugely popular Scottish crime series.When a body is found after a flood, the secrets of a tempestuous life surface with it. Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner has kept the existence of his hated brother Michael hidden for years. As he relives their past conflict, other demons threaten his future. For not only are his professional enemies circling, but Sarah, his wife, seems set on a course for calamity. Meanwhile, in an Edinburgh art gallery, his team confront a shocking and very public case of arson. Was it a political protest, or something much deeper?

Bob Skinner faces a complex case of murder and organised crime in this absorbing crime thriller.In Edinburgh's old Parliament House, an armed robbery trial is about to take a macabre turn. While the lawyers tussle over the evidence, the judge suddenly collapses in agony - the victim of an apparent heart attack. For Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner, with his life finally back on track after the near-collapse of his marriage, this is the last thing he needs. But as the wave of brutal robberies continues, it emerges that Lord Archergait's death may have been murder - and he's not the only judge whose life is in danger. With a gang of ruthless killers still at large, it's down to Skinner to piece together a puzzle of sinister complexity.

Oz Blackstone is enjoying the success of his latest smash hit movie. He's moving into a big country house near Loch Lomond with his gorgeous wife Susie Gantry and together they have the lifestyle of everyone's dreams. But when blackmailers threaten Oz's father with a particularly sleazy scam, the dream begins to turn into a nightmare. Oz gets paint thrown at him during the premiere of his movie and then an incendiary bomb is sent to his wife's offices. Some very nasty people will resort to murder to get what they want, but Oz has never ducked out of confrontation. As he prepares to fight back he knows he's being sucked into a vortex of evil...

When a body is found after a flood, the secrets of a tempestuous life surface with it. Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner has kept the existence of his hated brother Michael hidden for years. As he relives their past conflict, other demons threaten his future. For not only are his professional enemies circling, but Sarah, his wife, seems set on a course for calamity. Can Skinner surmount the greatest challenges of his life... and if he does, will he ever be the same? Meanwhile, in an Edinburgh art gallery, his team confront a shocking and very public case of arson. Was it a political protest, or something much deeper?

The latest Bob Skinner mystery from the legendary Quintin Jardine.Praise for Quintin Jardine:'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' THE SUN'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' OBSERVER'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICK'Scottish crime-writing at its finest' THE SUN

'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICK The gripping new mystery in the bestselling Bob Skinner series from the acclaimed Quintin Jardine. His native Scotland stands on the cusp of a new era of international expansion under its charismatic new leader, but former top cop Sir Robert Skinner is settled happily in Spain with his family, fully engaged in a new and unexpected career. He is focused on a business issue, only to be drawn suddenly homewards as a family member finds himself a witness to a homicidal attack, and under fire himself. Skinner drops everything to rush to his stricken son's aid. Pulled back into his old world he finds himself facing the aftermath of a shocking crime only to see it evolve into a mystery as great as any he has ever faced. When kidnap follows murder, and the investigation expands in range and complexity, can Bob and his onetime police protégé ACC Sauce Haddock run the perpetrators to ground? Praise for Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner series: 'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' SUN 'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' OBSERVER

The latest Bob Skinner mystery from the legendary Quintin Jardine.'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICKAn expensive mobile home, abandoned in a new housing development, reveals a fearful secret when finally it is opened by police: the decomposed body of a former colleague. But what became of Sandra Bulloch after she left the police service? What chain of events led to her murder?DCI Lottie Mann is tasked with finding the killer of her former boss, and investigation that draws Bob Skinner into its web, just as a second mystery develops for him in his new Spanish base...Praise for Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner series:'A highly charged, fast-moving crime thriller' HERALD'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns' THE SUN'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' OBSERVER

The latest Bob Skinner mystery from the legendary Quintin Jardine.'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICKAn expensive mobile home, abandoned in a new housing development, reveals a fearful secret when finally it is opened by police: the decomposed body of a former colleague. But what became of Sandra Bulloch after she left the police service? What chain of events led to her murder?DCI Lottie Mann is tasked with finding the killer of her former boss, and investigation that draws Bob Skinner into its web, just as a second mystery develops for him in his new Spanish base..

The latest Bob Skinner mystery from the legendary Quintin Jardine.'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICKAn expensive mobile home, abandoned in a new housing development, reveals a fearful secret when finally it is opened by police: the decomposed body of a former colleague. But what became of Sandra Bulloch after she left the police service? What chain of events led to her murder?DCI Lottie Mann is tasked with finding the killer of her former boss, and investigation that draws Bob Skinner into its web, just as a second mystery develops for him in his new Spanish base..

The latest Bob Skinner mystery from the legendary Quintin Jardine.'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICK On a sunny seaside August morning, a woman on maternity leave spots a body wedged in rocks on a Scottish beach. Gavin Ayre's riding gear sparks the assumption that he had been thrown by a panicked horse . . . until an autopsy reveals this was no accident. Soon it becomes clear that Ayre's life was as big a mystery as his death. Detective Superintendent Harold 'Sauce' Haddock heads an investigation that is running into the sand, until a link is revealed between the victim and another man in Spain, with a surprisingly similar name.Faced with the twin puzzle Sauce turns to his mentor, Bob Skinner, moved on from the police service to head an international media group. Soon the two friends are at the heart of a multi-layered conspiracy, as they search for the answer to the prime question . . . who killed Gavin Ayre?Praise for Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner series:'A highly charged, fast-moving crime thriller' HERALD'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' THE SUN'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' OBSERVER

'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICKAmidst a family celebration, a cataclysmic storm uncovers long-buried horrors - and a team of detectives struggle to solve a thirty-year-old double murder.The police are also searching two countries for traces of a mysterious crime novelist who appears to have vanished. Has the faking of his own death been his masterpiece?Alongside each inquiry as it evolves is former Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner, relishing his new role as a media magnate, but drawn into reluctant action and towards a chilling discovery of his own.With evil on one hand and intrigue on the other, will Skinner escape with either his integrity or career intact . . . or is it open season on him? Praise for Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner series:'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' SUN'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' OBSERVER

'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICKAmidst a family celebration, a cataclysmic storm uncovers long-buried horrors - and a team of detectives struggle to solve a thirty-year-old double murder.The police are also searching two countries for traces of a mysterious crime novelist who appears to have vanished. Has the faking of his own death been his masterpiece?Alongside each inquiry as it evolves is former Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner, relishing his new role as a media magnate, but drawn into reluctant action and towards a chilling discovery of his own.With evil on one hand and intrigue on the other, will Skinner escape with either his integrity or career intact . . . or is it open season on him? Praise for Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner series:'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' SUN'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' OBSERVER

'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICKAmidst a family celebration, a cataclysmic storm uncovers long-buried horrors - and a team of detectives struggle to solve a thirty-year-old double murder.The police are also searching two countries for traces of a mysterious crime novelist who appears to have vanished. Has the faking of his own death been his masterpiece?Alongside each inquiry as it evolves is former Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner, relishing his new role as a media magnate, but drawn into reluctant action and towards a chilling discovery of his own.With evil on one hand and intrigue on the other, will Skinner escape with either his integrity or career intact . . . or is it open season on him? Praise for Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner series:'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' SUN'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' OBSERVER

From acclaimed author Quintin Jardine comes the latest gripping mystery in his bestselling Bob Skinner series, perfect for fans of Ian Rankin and Peter May.

The gripping new mystery in Quintin Jardine's bestselling Bob Skinner series, not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May.Sir Robert Skinner's stock is rising - after retiring from the police service he's been promoted to head an international media organisation. Yet a series of unexplained deaths on his home turf in Scotland threaten to bring him crashing back down to earth.As Skinner helps the elderly in his local community, several residents seem to die of natural causes. But when a gruesome discovery is made in a Glasgow flat and one of Skinner's long-time friends - an aspiring politician - emerges as the prime suspect, things become very murky indeed.After unpicking clues that go nowhere, Skinner and his team are left grappling the most baffling conundrum they have ever encountered - is there a mystery at all?Praise for Quintin Jardine's Bob Skinner series:'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' DENZIL MEYRICK'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' SUN'Another powerful tartan noir that packs a punch' PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH'Incredibly difficult to put the book down . . . a guide through a world of tangled family politics, hostile takeovers, government-sanctioned killing, extortion and the seedier side of publishing . . . Quintin Jardine should be . . . your first choice!' SCOTS MAGAZINE'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' OBSERVER

The unputdownable new mystery featuring ex Chief Constable Bob Skinner. By Quintin Jardine, the acclaimed author of THE BAD FIRE and COLD CASE. 'If Ian Rankin is the Robert Carlyle of Scottish crime writers, then Jardine is surely its Sean Connery' Glasgow Herald

THE DARKEST DEEDS ARE HIDDEN FROM SIGHT . . .Bob Skinner is back in the latest gritty mystery in Quintin Jardine's bestselling series, not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May. New Year's Day, and Edinburgh lies sleeping. But two men will never wake again . . . When struggling ex-copper Terry Coats was discovered in bed with an air hostess, his excuse that he was 'going undercover' cut no ice with the force - or his wife. But now he's been brutally killed on Hogmanay night, it seems there may have been more to his plea.Dragged from the New Year celebrations, Special Constable Sir Bob Skinner is shocked to find Coats' body alongside that of Griff Montell: his erstwhile protégé, and former lover of Skinner's own daughter, Alex. Could there be some dark truth under Coats' cock-and-bull story, after all?As the secrets start unravelling, Skinner realises he has gravely underestimated someone close to him - and the effects will cost him, and those he loves, dear . . .Praise for Jardine's gripping mysteries: 'The legendary Quintin Jardine . . . such a fine writer' Denzil Meyrick 'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' Sun'Another powerful tartan noir that packs a punch' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Incredibly difficult to put the book down . . . a guide through a world of tangled family politics, hostile takeovers, government-sanctioned killing, extortion and the seedier side of publishing . . . Quintin Jardine should be . . . your first choice!' Scots magazine'Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn' Observer

'Scottish crime-writing at its finest, with a healthy dose of plot twists and turns, bodies and plenty of brutality' SunThe gritty new mystery in Quintin Jardine's bestselling Bob Skinner series, set in Edinburgh and the Scottish countryside; not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May. Nine years ago, divorcee Marcia Brown took her own life. A pillar of the community, she had been accused of theft, and it's assumed that she was unable to live with the shame. Now her former husband wants the case reopened. Marcia was framed, he says, to prevent her exposing a scandal. He wants justice for Marcia. And Alex Skinner, Solicitor Advocate, and daughter of retired Chief Constable Sir Robert Skinner, has taken on the brief, aided by her investigator Carrie McDaniels. When tragedy strikes and his daughter comes under threat, Skinner steps in. His quarry is about to discover that the road to hell is marked by bad intentions . . .'Skinner's lost none of his hard edge when he steps up to the plate after his daughter Alex, a legal eagle, is in trouble when a cold murder case explodes red hot and dangerous. Someone's going to meet his match in Skinner' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'Well-constructed . . . intriguing' Scotland on SundayWhat readers are saying about Quintin Jardine's gripping mysteries: 'I would recommend anyone new to the series to give yourself a treat and read them all!!''I have given this book five stars because of the ingenious plot, the excellence of the narrative and, after quite a number of years, Quintin Jardine is still producing superb crime fiction''A fantastic gripping read and I didn't want to put it down''As always Mr Jardine had me hooked from the first chapter to the very end'