Snow Hill

Description

An atmospheric crime novel set in 1930s London where the mysterious death of a policeman exposes a wider world of vice and corruption. "Friday, 18 December, 1936. I went to my funeral this morning..." So begins the diary of John Steadman, an ambitious young journalist in London. When he gets a tip-off about a murdered policeman, he thinks he's found his scoop. Trouble is, no-one else seems to know anything about it... or they're not telling. Then John finds someone willing to talk. At least, someone who was. Now they're hanging from a meat hook in a refrigerated locker and John's on the verge of a front-page scandal that will make or break his career. But to get to the heart of this dark story, he must first go undercover. Six feet undercover, to be precise... Based on a shocking true story, Snow Hill vividly brings to life a London you never knew about - an underworld that doesn't officially exist and until now has never been documented.

Mark Sanderson is a journalist. Since 1999, he has written the Literary Life column in the Sunday Telegraph and he reviews crime fiction for the Evening Standard. His memoir, Wrong Rooms, published in 2002 to widespread critical acclaim was described by Melvyn Bragg as 'one of the most moving I have ever read'.

'Snow Hill is a dashing and compelling addition to the distinguished file of the London crime and punishment novel' Melvyn Bragg 'Powerfully atmospheric. A compelling journey into the dark heart of the Square Mile' Jake Arnott 'Both emotionally believable and intriguing...undeniable page-turning appeal' Financial Times 'A terrific plot' Guardian 'Thoroughly entertaining' Daily Mirror 'A pungent evocation of time and place ... London of the 1930s is conjured with immense skill' Independent 'The period atmosphere is vividly and convincingly portrayed ... a very good read' Literary Review 'Sanderson relishes the louche and smoky milieu where police and press rub shoulders with sexual adventurers and criminals, and he describes it with considerable verve.' Spectator 'A stunningly clever debut ... In a brilliant plot, incredibly paced and acutely narrated, Sanderson hints wryly that there's never been such a thing as a "straight" policeman' Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive of Stonewall