First published 2025
Inspector Frank Grasby arrives in the remote Yorkshire village of Elderby in December 1952 to investigate a bizarre discovery. Someone has found a dead stranger wedged inside the chimney of Holly House. Grasby, hoping this case will restore his damaged reputation after recent professional setbacks, must determine whether the victim was a burglar or something more sinister. The investigation takes a deadly turn when severe blizzards trap the village, cutting off all outside assistance. Then the local doctor's husband turns up murdered. Grasby realizes every resident of Elderby harbors secrets, and the deeper he digs, the more dangerous the truth becomes. With the weather worsening and tensions rising, Grasby races to solve both murders before the consequences reach far beyond this isolated community. The inspector discovers that what appeared to be a simple break-in gone wrong connects to something that threatens the entire nation.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, isolated-setting, small-town-mystery
Setting: Elderby, Holly House, Yorkshire
Period: 1952
416 pages · Paperback · Poisoned Pen Press