The Fallen — Ben Sanders

When local cop Sean Devereaux, who enjoys skating close to the edge, does a favor for his attractive neighbor, he unwittingly exposes a web of deceit and corruption. As he investigates the murder of a 16-year-old Epsom princess in his day job, his after-hours efforts have him stumbling into the aftermath of a scam involving senior colleagues, and he is soon enmeshed in an escalating cycle of kidnapping, murder and violent mayhem. With his unconventional ex-colleague-turned-security-specialist John Hale, Devereaux slowly begins to unravel the truth as the body count climbs and the stakes become personal.

As an outwardly terse, street-savvy operator, Sean Devereaux emerges as an engaging and irreverent hero, becoming the catalyst for an absorbing, strangely uneasy murder mystery, set in unnervingly familiar surroundings. A superb blend of international-standard crime-writing with a strong local ambience that lures you in and delivers a strong and emotionally satisfying read.