The Edge Tread Carefully

Fifth book in the critically-acclaimed Jon Spicer series, also includes the opening of the sixth novel in the series, Cut Adrift. Reviews

'I'll be downloading more of Chris Simms' books ASAP. I feel like I've found a hidden gem.' (Amazon Reader Review - Pecking Order)

Chris Simms has been quietly building one of the best police procedural series in this country. (CATHOLIC HERALD)

Pacy, gripping and original storytelling (YORKSHIRE POST)

This highly polished study of madness and murder shows how well Simms' talent is maturing. (SHOTS MAGAZINE)

A must-read for those who like their crime fiction psychological (DEADLY PLEASURES MAGAZINE)

The story's dramatic events are drawn out, gradually building to a page-turning, heart-stopping - and totally unexpected - ending. (THE BOOK PLACE)

The novel's high-quality storytelling has an authentic, documentary feel' (CITY LIFE MAGAZINE)

It's the phone call DI Jon Spicer has long dreaded - his wild younger brother, Dave, has been found dead: murdered and horribly mutilated. Jon had hoped to steer him away from his drug-fuelled, self-destructive fate, but now must face the fact he failed. Full of anger, Jon heads to the town where Dave's body was discovered, bent on finding the killer.

Meanwhile, Dave's young girlfriend, Zoe, is trapped in an inner-city hell. Vulnerable, destitute and now alone, she is being hunted by the vicious criminal Dave owed money to.

Arriving in the Peak District, Jon finds a community with plenty to hide. With Zoe's time running out and his own family cracking under the strain, Jon realises the truth of his brother's death lies in two places: a frightened girl trapped somewhere among Manchester's tower-blocks and out on the bleak heights overlooking the secretive rural town.

Chris Simms' acclaimed first novel in the DI Spicer series, KILLING THE BEASTS was selected as a Best Crime book for 2005 by SHOTS magazine. He was then selected as a Waterstone's Author for the Future, one of 25 writers tipped by publishers, editors and agents, to produce the most impressive body of work over the next quarter century. Since then he has been nominated several times for the THEAKSTON'S CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR and for CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DAGGERS. Chris lives in Manchester.

Find out more on his official web site, www.chrissimms.info or, for regular postings, see his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AuthorChrisSimms