The Deep End by Denver Murphy

A rookie detective faces the first serious challenge in her career when a man is almost killed in an acid attack.

It is DC Ruby Knight’s first day in CID and she is called upon to investigate a vicious assault. A man has been doused with acid on his doorstep.

Having returned to Hertfordshire after working as a beat bobby in London, Knight is relieved she has been given a serious case. But she has also been partnered with DI Steve Jenkins, a dishevelled detective who looks like he’s almost given up the ghost.

Despite Knight’s enthusiasm, she struggles to find a motive for the crime, which has left the victim fighting for his life. And she becomes increasing frustrated with her partner’s lacklustre approach to policing.

But when another attack occurs the case is blown wide open. Knight’s fears that working in a backwater will be boring, prove quite unfounded. Indeed, she even begins to appreciate her partner’s discreet ways of getting information, and gradually grows fond of him.

But what was a difficult, emotional case will soon become a murder investigation and it will take all of Knight’s intelligence and energy to bring the killers to justice.

“An exciting read, the suspense ratchets up on every page. Totally gripping.”

THE DEEP END is the first in a series of crime thrillers featuring rookie detective Ruby Knight. Look out for the next in the series, SCORNED, out soon on Kindle.

Denver Murphy is the author of the best-selling DCI Brandt serial killer trilogy, available on Kindle Unlimited, in paperback, and soon as an audiobook.