INTRODUCING A CLASSIC BRITISH WHODUNNIT FEATURING SCOTTISH DETECTIVE JOHN McLEISH AND SPARKY CIVIL SERVANT FRANCESCA WILSON. ‘ A mastery worthy of P.D. James’ warm heart and cold eye.’ Kirkus Shady businessman William Price is already well known to the Fraud Squad. But when his body is discovered hanging at his home he also becomes the focus of DSI John McLeish and Francesca Wilson . Price had been dead for days. But no one had reported him missing. His business dealings were ruthless — swindling pensioners out of their money. At home he was a violent husband. He would not be missed. The investigation takes both McLeish and Wilson in different directions. But delving into Price’s private life places Wilson in a situation that threatens her own marriage. McLeish digs deeper into Price’s business dealings, helped by an old flame. He finds the dead man had not just been defrauding clients. His death left his business partner and his wife with mounting debts and unpaid bills. There is no shortage of suspects but who would resort to murder? As the investigation becomes more complex, both McLeish and Wilson must unravel a dangerous web of violence, greed and corruption to find a killer. Before their marriage becomes the next casualty. Fans of P.D. James, Robert Galbraith, Ngaio Marsh and Agatha Christie will devour this classic crime series full of twists. Please note this was previously published as A Timely Death ***A FATAL BLOW WAS WINNER OF THE JOHN CREASY NEW BLOOD DAGGER 1988*** PRAISE FOR JANET NEEL’S WILSON AND McLEISH SERIES: ‘An outstandingly good first novel.’ Times Literary Supplement ‘A stylish debut by a literate and witty writer.’ Washington Post ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Ten Stars .’ Christine S ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘ Fascinating stories with well developed characters .’ Suzanne ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I would recommend this to lovers of mysteries .’ Caroline ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A captivating set of central and peripheral characters in tales of murder deftly told by a master storyteller .’ Michael H MEET THE DETECTIVES DETECTIVE INSPECTOR JOHN McLEISH may have been brought up in the south of England, but he is very much a Scotsman through and through. Having worked his way up through the ranks of London’s finest, he fervently believes that the Met, like the armies at Waterloo, could not function without the Scots in its ranks. Standing at six feet four — and with the physique of a rugby forward — he cuts a striking figure, but is every inch the gentleman. Bright young FRANCESCA WILSON worked her way up through the man’s world of the civil service to become a much-respected figure in the Department of Trade and Industry. But don’t be fooled by her dazzling eyes and snappy haircut — her sharp mind and photographic memory mean she is more than a match for her male counterparts. And, as those close to her know, she cut her teeth taking care of four younger brothers from the age of ten, who still continually get into scrapes. ALSO BY JANET NEEL WILSON & McLEISH MYSTERIES Book 1: A FATAL BLOW Book 2: A FATAL FALL Book 3: A FATAL ENCOUNTER Book 4: A FATAL POINT Book 5: A FATAL CHOICE