Chris Collett crafts crime fiction that is deeply rooted in the experiences of ordinary people and the evocative settings of seaside towns. Her narratives delve into the complexities of human nature, drawing on a wealth of past experiences from diverse employments. Now retired from academia, Collett brings a keen observational eye and a profound understanding of community to her gripping mysteries. She masterfully builds suspense and creates compelling plots that resonate with readers through their authentic voice and intricate development.
When a man dies in a house fire, the investigating officers are left baffled as to whether the blaze was started deliberately. It's not the first time the Shah family has been targeted. At the same time, DI Mariner is searching for a missing bridegroom. Two seemingly unrelated investigations - but there is more to each case than meets the eye.
Just when he is prepared to take a well-earned leave of absence, DI Tom Mariner is called back to the case when six-week-old Jessica Klinnemann is abducted from a local day nursery. What at first appears to be a random kidnapping gradually reveals itself to be a meticulously planned operation. The motive remains unclear until Mariner discovers that the baby’s father works for a scientific research company that has long been the target of animal rights activists. A crude note seems to confirm that animal rights protesters were behind the scare, but just when Mariner thinks he’s solved the crime, one of the nursery workers is killed in a hit and run, and the case is blown wide open.