Graham Bartlett Knihy

The third explosive crime thriller set in the dark underbelly of Brighton following the huge success of Bad For Good and Force of Hate.

'Dark, brutal and laced with violence' - Daily Mail

"Babes in the Wood" by Graham Bartlett and Peter James delves into a murder case that shocked the nation, presenting both a gripping police procedural and an exploration of a truly evil man's motivations. On October 9, 1986, nine-year-olds Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway vanished while playing in their Brighton estate, with their bodies discovered the next day in a local park. This heartbreaking crime devastated their close-knit community and captured national attention. The authors provide an insider's view of the investigation, featuring exclusive interviews with the officers involved in capturing the killer, local man Russell Bishop. The subsequent trial became one of Brighton's most infamous, culminating in a shocking verdict of 'not guilty.' Three years later, while working as a junior detective, Bartlett encounters a similar situation when a seven-year-old girl is kidnapped and found wandering naked on the South Downs. Bishop's name resurfaces as a suspect, highlighting the chilling possibility of history repeating itself. Despite the legal and scientific challenges, the police remain determined to bring him to justice for the double murder. Decades later, detectives receive an unexpected second chance to hold Bishop accountable for his horrific crimes.

'Gripping, clever, masterly written and reeking authenticity on every page.' Peter James