THE THIRD BOOK IN THE GRIPPING BRITISH DETECTIVE SERIES SET IN THE ATMOSPHERIC LAKE DISTRICT

A body is discovered hanging from the rock face high on Shepherd’s Crag.

Detective Inspector Simon Wayland is the only detective in Cumbria with the skills to climb up to the body. When he does, he realises this was no accident.

The man was hauled up there alive. Roped to the rock. And left to die.

The dead man is Chet Brierley: bestselling author, national hero, a mountaineer who conquered the world’s deadliest peaks. He came to the Lake District to launch his memoir. Someone made sure he never got the chance.

Then a second climber is found dead.

The trail leads Wayland far beyond the fells to a doomed expedition in the mountains of South America, where a single night ended in disaster.

For twenty-five years the truth has stayed buried. But someone knows what really happened up there.

And they’ve waited a very long time for revenge.

Perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Peter Robinson and LJ Ross.

MEET DETECTIVE SIMON WAYLAND
A seasoned detective with decades of experience, Detective Inspector Simon Wayland has traded the chaos of city policing for the quieter rhythms of the Lake District. Thoughtful, observant and quietly stubborn, Wayland prefers patience and instinct to flashy police work. He enjoys the simple pleasures of life among the fells — long drives in his beloved vintage MG, a good pint in a village pub and the steady partnership of a small but loyal team. But even in the calmest corners of Cumbria, trouble has a habit of finding him.

THE SETTING
The Lake District is a land of sweeping mountains, quiet villages and deep, shadowed waters. Tourists come for the beauty, but those who live here know the fells can hide more than breathtaking views. In these close-knit communities, where history runs deep and memories are long, old secrets have a way of rising to the surface.

READERS LOVE DAVID M. THORPE:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Utterly fabulous read, I enjoyed every line of this novel.’ SLDJ
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It’s the best book I’ve read for a while.’ Bev
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you enjoy police procedurals that balance atmospheric tension with genuine heart, the second Simon Wayland investigation is an absolute must-read.’ Diane Elizabeth T.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Thorpe keeps the tension on as the pages turn never forgetting the beautiful Cumbrian settings making you feeling captivated.’ Pete C.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another brilliant book, couldn't put it down.’ Happyshopper2
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Very hard to put down.’ Shirley McD.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Mr Thorpe, you have me hooked. A superbly researched, enthralling crime story.’ Julian F.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Brilliant story.’ Amazon Customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent. Action-packed with twists and turns along the way.’ Kindle Customer
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A very good read which I highly recommend to lovers of crime thrillers.’ Martha B.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent, well plotted and good police procedural. Very gripping.’ Colin H.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent writing, plenty of twists and turns and a great surprise ending.’ lelly
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The writing is excellent, the plot is action-packed with twists and turns.’ coco
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A gripping debut novel. I can’t wait for more.’ Phil
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Great story.’ Moonraker
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Excellent. Thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish.’ Fairy F