First Dead Body by Tony R. Cox
England. 1971.
Reporter Simon Jardine is on the hunt for the story that will kick start his career and when a tortured, mutilated body turns up on his patch he can’t help thinking his luck is finally in.
At first glance the provincial town of Derby is about as far away from the sex, drugs and rock-n-roll of London and California as it’s possible to imagine but as Jardine begins to scratch below the surface he finds that all is not well in England’s green and pleasant land.
Along with fellow reporter Dave Green and local DJ Tom Freeman, Jardine is soon drawn into a spiral of gangland drug dealing and violence that stretches from the north of England to the south of Spain.
Praise for the Simon Jardine series
“This gripping thriller involves murder, mayhem and drugs, and shines a fascinating light in The Troubles…” - Roz Watkins, author of the DI Meg Dalton series
"Tony Cox always delivers well-executed thrillers with a strong Derby heart. Buckle up for the ride." - Sarah Ward author of the DC Childs series.
“When trouble comes knocking, I want Simon Jardine in my corner.” - Steven Dunne, author of the award-winning Reaper series.
“Unrelenting in tension, until an explosive climax; as well as delivering the thrills, Cox captures perfectly in dark tones the menacing atmosphere of '70's Derby, it's lurking menace and threats and at a pivotal time and place in British history.” - MP Wright, author of the JT Ellington series.