She must solve the ultimate riddle…

DI Jan Talantire is called to a cottage in Ilfracombe, where the female occupant is found dead, impaled with a crucifix. The woman, who had been renting the house for a few months, is well known locally. Documents found at her house indicate her name is Ruth Lyle. The name means nothing to the young PC who found her, but DI Talantire knows that this cannot be true.

Fifty years earlier, sixteen-year-old Ruth Lyle was murdered – stabbed by a crucifix, in exactly the same location. It is impossible for this to be the same woman, and yet all the records are a match.

With a brutal killer at large, DI Talantire must work quickly to solve the most complicated case of her career: how can a woman die twice?

A twisty and unputdownable crime thriller. Perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths and Kate Ellis.

Praise for The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle

My new favorite author!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

What a wild ride! Highly recommended, and I can’t wait for the sequel’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

One of the best series starters I’ve had the pleasure of reading. The twists, turns, and jaw dropping moments are plentiful while Jan and her team are already believable, personable, and work well together. I am fully invested in this new series and impatient for book two’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘Great story. Lots of twists and turns. Amazing characters’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

A must-read. You will want to grab this book and jump right in!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

Immersive, compelling and well written, this is riveting start to a new series with a deftly drawn cast of characters, a firm sense of place and a solid mystery at its very heart’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘Super engaging. The writing was very clear and well thought out. The characters were likeable and kept leaving me wanting more’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘A brilliant start to a great new series. I’ve not read a plot as original and captivating for a long time. Genius writing’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘A fascinating and well-written investigation with plenty of twists. I was completely gripped!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

Perfectly paced with enough twists to keep the well-seasoned crime reader engaged. A most welcome addition to this genre’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

‘Absolutely fantastic! The best I’ve read this year so far! A smart, different, tantalising crime story that unravelled at lightning speed’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review


The Last Ride

by Nick Louth

Published 7 November 2024
What happened to the missing victim?

On a midsummer’s night, a stolen car packed with teenagers crashes at high speed on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. DI Jan Talantire arrives at the scene to find the victims of the crash.

It appears to be a tragic accident until a worried mother turns up at the scene of the accident. Her daughter, Jade, a friend of the joyriders, hasn’t been seen since the previous night. The account dovetails with the statement of the householder who claimed to see a girl running near the crashed vehicle the moment he emerged.

Was Jade in the car with her friends when it crashed, and if she was, why did she flee? And where is she now?

A tense and gripping detective novel. Perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths and Sally Rigby


The Dark Edge

by Nick Louth

Published 24 April 2025
The higher you climb, the further you fall.

On her way home after an overnight shift, DI Jan Talantire hears the control room relaying an emergency. Someone has fallen to their death from one of the highest cliffs in Devon. Jan is nearby so she agrees to hold the fort until uniformed cops arrive.

At the scene, a small knot of people have gathered, all of whom have some connection to the victim, Joanne Dexter. Could one of them have been involved in her death?

When the Commissioner personally asks Jan to take charge of the case, she is taken aback – such a small incident would usually be beneath a DI. But she soon realises there’s far more to this case than first meets the eye. This fall was no accident.

Joanne’s work forced her into close contact with some dangerous people. Could she have gotten on their bad side? Or was her killer someone closer to home?

An unputdownable British crime thriller from the million-copy bestseller. Perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths, Kate Ellis and Sally Rigby.


The Deep End

by Nick Louth

Published 13 November 2025