‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong’ – Stephen King

A runaway girl. An inescapable past. Banks is pulled into a perilous world.

With his personal life in turmoil DCI Banks is considering his options. But then late one night the architect of his professional misfortune, Chief Constable Riddle, summons Banks to his house for his daughter Emily has run away and compromising photos have appeared online. Riddle wants Banks to use his unorthodox methods to find her without a fuss.

Banks, a father himself, cannot refuse and he follows the trail to the dark heart of London. But when a series of gruesome murders follows soon after, Banks finds himself pulled into the dangerous world of his most powerful enemy, Chief Constable Jimmy Riddle.

Cold is the Grave is a pulse-pounding tale. If you enjoyed it, then you'll love the next instalment in the Banks series - which was made into the major British ITV Drama DCI Banks - Aftermath.

*****

Critical acclaim for the Inspector Banks series

'A powerfully moving work' Ian Rankin

'Top-notch police procedure' Jeffery Deaver

'A wonderful novel' Michael Connelly

'An addictive crime-novel series' New York Times

'A guaranteed page-turner' Mirror

'Demonstrates how the crime novel, when done right, can reach parts that other books can't . . . A considerable achievement' Guardian

'One of the most authentic and atmospheric of crime series' Independent

'The master of police procedural' Mail on Sunday

'Near, perhaps, even at the top of, the British crime writers' league' The Times

'Banks is genuinely human, rather than a hard man' Observer