‘Guaranteed to blindside even the most experienced thriller reader.’ Booklist Starred ReviewMeet troubled criminologist Dr Will Traynor. He doesn’t play by the book, but his dark past helps him capture killers by getting inside their minds.Three years agoDr Will Traynor arrives home to find his nine-year-old daughter locked away in a cupboard and his wife missing.NowA clumsily decapitated body is found abandoned on Blackfoot Running Trail in Birmingham. A sickly, metallic smell hangs in the heavy air . . . but the head is nowhere to be seen.With the investigating team getting nowhere, Detective Bernard Watts is reluctantly forced to call in expert criminologist Dr Will Traynor.Traynor is a loose cannon and no team player, but his unorthodox methods unearth a gruesome clue.
Two human skulls buried in a shallow grave just a stone’s throw from the murder scene.The team is now looking for a serial killer.And it’s only Traynor who can get inside the killer’s mind to unlock the terrifying truth.This unputdownable crime mystery full of twists is perfect for fans of Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, Karin Slaughter, Angela Marsons and Helen H. Durrant.Please note this book was previously published as Dark Truths.WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING ABOUT A.J. CROSS:‘Outstanding . . .
Cross, herself a forensic psychologist, plays fair with the reader right up to the surprising conclusion.’ Publishers Weekly Starred Review of The Coldest Death‘Cross pulls no punches in a shocking tale of crime and punishment.’ Kirkus Reviews⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A perfectly dark and riveting thriller that will keep you hooked from the first thrilling page!’ Cathy T.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Exceptional.’ Jay⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Brilliant, full of twists and turns.’ Joanne⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The author has a way of drawing you into the story and putting you into the passenger seat of the investigation.’ Erica⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It takes a real talent with words to write a story in this way . . . This was a FIVE STAR read for me!’ Cloud Lake Literary⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A well-written and cleverly-plotted crime novel.’ The Quick and the ReadTHE DETECTIVEEver since that night three years ago, Dr Will Traynor has been obsessed with finding his wife’s body and identifying her killer. Now the expert criminologist is back to working on the darkest murder cases.
It’s perhaps not the best profession for someone diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress, but Traynor’s dark past makes him perfect for hunting down depraved killers . . .THE AUTHORLike her main character in the Dr Kate Hanson Mysteries, A.J. Cross is a forensic psychologist who draws on her professional knowledge from twenty years’ experience to create shockingly realistic villains that will chill you to your core.
