Firewatching, the debut novel from Russ Thomas, is out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Firewatching is a taut investigative thriller bursting with character and tension, introducing an enigmatic, fresh lead detective unlike any you have met before – Detective Sergeant Adam Tyler.

‘Firewatching is a UK cop novel with a pitch-perfect blend of the best of the old and the best of the new – all the traditional strengths and charms are here, with a fresh and relevant 21st-century edge. I loved it.’ – Lee Child

ONE WRONG MOVE

A body is found bricked into the walls of a house. From the state of the hands, it’s clear the dead man was buried alive. Soon, the victim is linked to an old missing person’s case and DS Adam Tyler is called.

WILL IGNITE

As the sole representative of South Yorkshire’s Cold Case Review Unit, Tyler recognises his role for what it is – a means of keeping him out of the way following an ‘incident’. When this case falls in his lap, he grabs the opportunity to fix his stagnating career.

THE CITY

And then Tyler discovers he has a connection to the case that hopelessly compromises him. He makes the snap decision not to tell his superiors, certain that he and only he can solve the crime. But now Tyler must move carefully to find out the truth, without destroying the case or himself.

Meanwhile, someone in the city knows exactly what happened to the body. Someone who is watching Adam closely. Someone with an unhealthy affinity with fire …

‘Devoured in three days. A cracking read with a terrific new detective lead. Red hot debut for 2020.’ – Sarah Hilary 

‘Intelligent, pacy and compelling, it’s everything you could want from a crime novel.’ – Sarah Ward, author of the DC Childs mysteries

About the author

Russ Thomas was born in Essex, raised in Berkshire and now lives in Sheffield. He grew up in the 1980s reading anything he could get from the library, writing stories, watching large amounts of television, playing videogames, and largely avoiding the great outdoors. He spent five years trying to master playing the electronic organ and another five trying to learn Spanish. It didn’t take him too long to realise that he’d be better off sticking to the writing. After a few ‘proper’ jobs (among them: pot-washer, optician’s receptionist, supermarket warehouse operative, call-centre telephonist and storage salesman) he discovered the joys of bookselling, where he could talk to people about books all day. His debut novel Firewatching is the first book in the DS Adam Tyler series.

Categories Fiction South Africa

Tags Firewatching Jonathan Ball Publishers New books New releases Russ Thomas