In Coal Blood

A small mining community on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire becomes the centre of a mystery when a coal miner 'accidentally' dies underground…

After a standard shift down the Oakwood Hills coal mine, someone notices that Joe Murphy has not checked out. Nobody knows where Joe is, and the bullying mine manager assumes he has gone home to his beautiful wife without giving notice.

When Mary Murphy answers the door to a mine training officer, calling to see if Joe has returned home, panic sets in. There is no explanation for his absence, and her world turns upside-down in a matter of seconds.

His Majesty’s District Inspector Ken Wrigley sets out to investigate the situation and it is not long before the police are involved. When Joe’s body is found, it is clear that this is more than an accident.

As the investigation deepens, dangerous secrets rise to the surface... Who is Lily Daykin, and why was she so upset when she heard of Joe’s death? How is the murder connected to the horrific circumstances that befall her? And eighteen years later, will the truth about the killer who devastated the community finally be revealed?

In Coal Blood is a gripping novel that will keep readers guessing, chapter after chapter. Using his own knowledge of the mining industry, the author sets a tale of murder and mystery in an environment familiar to him. This book will appeal to fans of adult fiction, crime novels and thrillers.