The Playground Murders : the gripping new thriller from the Sunday Times Crime Club pick

Forty years ago, in the dark of the playground, two children's lives were changed for ever. Stella Darnell is a cleaner. But when she isn't tackling dust and dirt and restoring order to chaos, Stella solves murders. Her latest case concerns a man convicted of killing his mistress. His daughter thinks he's innocent, and needs Stella to prove it. As Stella sifts through piles of evidence and interview suspects, she discovers a link between the recent murder and a famous case from forty years ago: the shocking death of six-year-old Sarah Ferris, killed in the shadows of an empty playground. Stella knows that dredging up the past can be dangerous. But as she pieces together the tragedy of what happened to Sarah, she is drawn into a story of jealousy, betrayal and the end of innocence. A story that has not yet reached its end... Genre: Mystery, Thriller 'a Class Above' Ian Rankin. Forty Years Ago, In The Dark Of The Playground, Two Children's Lives Were Changed For Ever. Stella Darnell Is A Cleaner. But When She Isn't Tackling Dust And Dirt And Restoring Order To Chaos, Stella Solves Murders. Her Latest Case Concerns A Man Convicted Of Killing His Mistress. His Daughter Thinks He's Innocent, And Needs Stella To Prove It. As Stella Sifts Through Piles Of Evidence And Interview Suspects, She Discovers A Linkbetween The Recent Murder And A Famous Case From Forty Years Ago: The Shocking Death Of Six-year-old Sarah Ferris, Killed In The Shadows Of An Empty Playground. Stella Knows That Dredging Up The Past Can Be Dangerous. But As She Pieces Together The Tragedy Of What Happened To Sarah, She Is Drawn Into A Story Of Jealousy, Betrayal And The End Of Innocence. A Story That Has Not Yet Reached Its End... 'one Of The Most Original Characters In British Crime Fiction' Sunday Times. 'thomson Creates A Rich And Sinister World That Is Utterly Unique ... Gloriously Well-written' William Shaw. Forty years ago, in the dark of the playground, two children's lives were changed forever. Stella Darnell is a cleaner. But when she isn't tackling dust and dirt and restoring order to chaos, Stella solves murders . Her latest case concerns a man convicted of killing his mistress . His daughter thinks he's innocent, and needs Stella to prove it. As Stella sifts through piles of evidence and interview suspects, she discovers a link between the recent murder and a famous case from forty years ago: the shocking death of six-year-old Sarah Ferris , killed in the shadows of an empty playground. Stella knows that dredging up the past can be dangerous. But as she pieces together the tragedy of what happened to Sarah, she is drawn into a story of jealousy, betrayal and the end of innocence. A story that has not yet reached its end... 'One of the most original characters in British crime fiction' SUNDAY TIMES . 'Thomson creates a rich and sinister world that is utterly unique ... Gloriously well-written' WILLIAM SHAW. 'A class above' IAN RANKIN. Forty years ago, in the dark of the playground, two children's lives were changed for ever. The case of six-year-old Sarah Ferris, killed in an empty playground, haunted Hammersmith police for decades. Not just because the victim would never see her seventh birthday. But because solving the case meant arresting another child on suspicion of Sarah's murder. Now, forty years later, cleaner-turned-detective Stella Darnell has unearthed new information about Sarah and her killer. As Stella pieces together the truth about what happened all those years ago, she is drawn into a story of jealousy, betrayal and the end of innocence. A story that has not yet reached its end... 'One of the most original characters in British crime fiction' SUNDAY TIMES . 'Thomson creates a rich and sinister world that is utterly unique... Gloriously well-written' WILLIAM SHAW. "Stella Darnell is a cleaner. But when she isn't tackling dust and dirt and restoring order to chaos, Stella solves murders. Her latest case concerns a man convicted of killing his mistress. His daughter thinks he's innocent, and needs Stella to prove it. As Stella sifts through piles of evidence and interview suspects, she discovers a link between the recent murder and a famous case from forty years ago: the shocking death of six-year-old Sarah Ferris, killed in the shadows of an empty playground. Stella knows that dredging up the past can be dangerous. But as she pieces together the tragedy of what happened to Sarah, she is drawn into a story of jealousy, betrayal and the end of innocence. A story that has not yet reached its end..."--Publisher description When a woman is found dead, and the killer is linked to the murder of a little girl in 1980, Stella is the woman for the case. But dredging up the past can be dangerous... When a woman is found dead, and the killer is linked to the murder of a little girl in 1980, Stella is the woman for the case. But dredging up the past can be dangerous ..