A murder. A village of secrets. One detective who won't back down.

Freshly reassigned to Scotland Yard's Serious Crime Division-and demoted back to Inspector-Amadeus Rupert is sent to the sleepy village of Tringford to investigate the brutal Halloween murder of sixteen-year-old chambermaid Janice Calderwood. But what begins as a straightforward cold case quickly unravels into a web of lies, illicit affairs, hidden identities, and whispered rituals in a community that closes ranks the moment outsiders arrive.

From the frostbitten riverbank where Janice's body was found-naked, throat slit, wrists slashed-to the eerie ruins of a cursed church where bonfires burn under the full moon, Rupert must navigate a landscape of deception. The hotel owner and his flirtatious wife, the vicar's enigmatic spouse, a chemist with a secret past, and a barber who knows more than he lets on-all are suspects in a village where everyone has something to hide.

Set in post-war 1950s England, The Village of Suspects blends classic British detective fiction with gothic atmosphere and psychological depth. With sharp dialogue, meticulous period detail, and a protagonist as flawed as he is brilliant, this first installment in An Inspector Rupert Mystery series will keep readers guessing until the final, chilling revelation.

Perfect for fans of Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, and Agatha Christie-with a dash of occult intrigue and moral ambiguity.