Deeds of Darkness

Description

June 1916. The largest British army ever to be sent into battle are preparing for their advance beyond the Somme. Among the troops is Paul Marmion, son of Detective Inspector Harvey Marmion of the Metropolitan Police who, while his son endures the hardships and terror of the trenches, does his best to maintain order on the Home Front. When a young woman is murdered in a darkened cinema, DI Marmion and his partner Sergeant Joe Keedy find themselves faced with a killer with no qualms about slaying his victims in public, or in displaying them where they will be easily found. And in the darkness provided by the blackouts, a murderer can strike with seeming impunity. When another body is discovered, bearing a striking resemblance to the first, panic begins to grip the city. For Marmion, the pressures of the investigation are further complicated when his daughter Alice, a member of the nascent Women's Police Service, is drawn into the case. As his son marches towards that fateful encounter on the Somme, and his superiors clamour for an arrest, can Marmion force the killer into the light?

Edward Marston was born and brought up in South Wales. A full-time writer for over thirty years, he has worked in radio, film, television and the theatre, and is a former chairman of the Crime Writer's Association.

'Beautifully written and conjuring up a terrific feel for the period ... Absolutely first-class entertainment' Books Monthly 'Cleverly plotted, well-written and invoking the atmosphere of the time ... heartily recommended' Mystery People 'Once again Marston has created a credible atmosphere within an intriguing story' Sunday Telegraph 'Abrim with heroism, tenderness, chicanery and suspense, while crisply evoking a vivid picture of the era' Kirkus Reviews 'Mesmerising ... will appeal to lovers of history' Wales on Sunday 'Deeds of Darkness is a beautifully crafted description of the time, with many interesting historical details. It is also a fascinating and, at times, chilling, police procedural with a likeable central cast of characters. I would recommend it' Mystery People 'Marston really knows how to bring this period of history alive. You can feel the atmosphere, the worry, and what it meant to ordinary people whose children were facing the horrors of the First World War yet without it overpowering the plot line.' Angela Youngman