‘The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are the best series on the market. Try one and tell me I'm wrong’ – Stephen King, author of It and The Shining

When two social workers, investigating reports of child abuse, appear at Brenda Scupham's door, her fear of authority leads her to comply meekly with their requests. Even when they say that they must take her seven-year old daughter Gemma away for tests. It is only when they fail to return Gemma the following day that Brenda realizes something has gone terribly wrong.

At the same time, Banks is investigating a particularly unpleasant murder at the site of an abandoned mine. Gradually, the leads in the two cases converge, guiding Banks to one of the most truly terrifying criminals he will ever meet . . .

Wednesday's Child is a pulse-pounding tale from the master of police procedural. If you enjoyed it, then you'll love the next instalment in the Banks series – which became the major British ITV Drama DCI Banks – Dry Bones That Dream.

*****

Critical acclaim for the Inspector Banks series:

'A powerfully moving work' – Ian Rankin

'Top-notch police procedure' – Jeffery Deaver

'A wonderful novel' – Michael Connelly

'An addictive crime-novel series' – The New York Times

'A guaranteed page-turner' – Mirror

'Demonstrates how the crime novel, when done right, can reach parts that other books can't . . . A considerable achievement' – The Guardian

'One of the most authentic and atmospheric of crime series' – The Independent

'The master of police procedural' – The Mail on Sunday

'Near, perhaps, even at the top of, the British crime writers' league' – The Times

'Banks is genuinely human, rather than a hard man' – The Observer