A village built on silence. A killer driven by legacy…When human remains are uncovered in a village allotment, the quiet Lincolnshire community of Nocton is forced to confront a past it has kept buried for generations. The discovery brings village life to a standstill — and exposes a silence that has lasted far too long.

The victim is identified as Mary Patterson, just nineteen years old when she died nearly a century ago. As forensic analysis reveals evidence of sustained suffering, Detective Chief Inspector Freya Bloom realises this is no forgotten tragedy. What first appears to be an isolated historical death soon points to something far darker — and to one of Lincolnshire's most carefully concealed crimes. Because the suffering did not end with Mary Patterson.

As Freya and her team work to maintain order while unpicking decades of denial, resistance hardens within the village. When a second body is discovered, the truth becomes impossible to ignore. This is not coincidence. It is continuity. And someone is killing with intent—driven by a legacy written in blood.

Can Freya break a cycle of violence rooted in generations of secrecy? Why are the villagers so determined to look the other way? And can she stop history from claiming another victim before it's too late?

Murder At Heart is the eighteenth book in the Wild Fens Murder Mystery series from Jack Cartwright. Known for his graphic descriptions, twisty plots, and unforgettable characters, Jack is a USA Today bestselling author, has sold more than a million books worldwide, and has penned more than fifty novels. His listeners also enjoy books by JM Dalgliesh, JD Kirk, Val McDermid, and Ann Cleeves.