Salt Lane: the superb first book in the DS Alexandra Cupidi Investigations

Shaw, William

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1786486571 ISBN 13: 9781786486578

Publisher: riverrun, 2018

'William Shaw is one of the great rising talents of UK crime fiction. This is his best book to date' Peter James
'Taut, terrifying and timely' Val McDermid
'William Shaw is a superb storyteller' Peter May

SHE ALWAYS WENT TOO FAR

DS Alexandra Cupidi has done it again. She should have learnt to keep her big mouth shut, after the scandal that sent her packing - resentful teenager in tow - from the London Met to the lonely Kent coastline. Murder is different here, among the fens and stark beaches.

SHE WAS THE ONE WHO FOUND THE KILLERS

The man drowned in the slurry pit had been herded there like an animal. He was North African, like many of the fruit pickers that work the fields. The more Cupidi discovers, the more she wants to ask - but these people are suspicious of questions.

AND NOW IT WAS KILLING HER

It will take an understanding of this strange place - its old ways and new crimes - to uncover the dark conspiracy behind the murder. Cupidi is not afraid to travel that road. But she should be. She should, by now, have learnt.

Salt Lane is the first in the new DS Alexandra Cupidi series. With his trademark characterisation and flair for social commentary, William Shaw has crafted a crime novel for our time that grips you, mind and heart.

Review:

William Shaw is one of the great rising talents of UK crime fiction. This is his best book to date, instantly engaging, beautifully written with really well observed and rounded characters. (Peter James)

Salt Lane is taut, terrifying and timely; the emotional tension never slackens (Val McDermid)

A sharp eye for detail, turned on 21st-century phenomenon of people-trafficking. There are some touching moments in this vivid tale, which recognises that decent people don't always behave well. (Joan Smith Sunday Times)

Shaw scores subtle political points in this atmospheric, state-of-the-nation thriller that, as always, features intricate plotting, realistic dialogue and believable characters. A modern crime master. (Simon Copeland Sun)

A fine police heroine emerges in Detective Alexandra Cupidi . . . living in the shadow of the power station at Dungeness is a splendid backdrop for a troubled detective . . . Cupidi discovers the deep shadows that lie across the landscape of her new home. (Geoffrey Wansell Daily Mail)

Excellent . . . A web of events that reverses readers' expectations: Rather than having all their roots in the distant past, these crimes have more to do with the evils and inequities of the modern world (Tom Nolan Wall Street Journal)

Cupidi is one of my current favourite crime fiction police characters. Shaw writes female characters and tackles the issues around motherhood so well. A page-turning police procedural with a thoughtful, character-driven heart, an astounding sense of place, and a quirky sense of humour. (Julia Crouch, author of Her Husband's Lover)

Intriguing and atmospheric, Salt Lane covers tough topics with sensitivity, a dash of humour and above all, beautiful writing. I love the whole Cupidi family - mother, daughter and child. I don't think there are any other crime novels I've read that are exploring this kind of family dynamic. (Susi Holliday)

Brilliant. Atmospheric, immersive scene setting, highly engaging main protagonist and a superbly crafted plot, written beautifully. (Liz Loves Books)

Gritty, hard-hitting crime rarely sits beside brooding atmosphere, flawless writing, and characters so real you could have a chat with them, but Salt Lane is that rare gem. A fabulous start to what I'm sure will be a must-read series. (Barbara Copperthwaite)

Book Description:

A murdered migrant is the first big case for the embattled DS Alexandra Cupidi in a new series by the acclaimed author of The Birdwatcher