SOHO, 1935.
Sergeant Leon Geats's patch.

A snarling, skull-cracking misanthrope, Geats marshals the grimy rabble according to his own elastic moral code.

The narrow alleys are brimming with jazz bars, bookies, blackshirts, ponces and tarts so when a body is found above the Windmill Club, detectives are content to dismiss the case as just another young woman who topped herself early.

But Geats - a good man prepared to be a bad one if it keeps the worst of them at bay - knows the dark seams of the city.

Working with his former partner, mercenary Flying Squad sergeant Mark Cassar, Geats obsessively dedicates himself to finding a warped killer - a decision that will reverberate for a lifetime and transform both men in ways they could never expect.

Praise for Dominic Nolan:

'A dark tale that suggests Nolan is set to become Britain's Michael Connelly' Daily Mail

'A great story told with real poise' Simon Kernick, Sunday Times bestseller

'Crime as it should be written...gripping, addictive, a thrill of a ride.' Jo Spain, international bestseller

'A beautifully written debut... this is a moving story, poignantly told.' Daily Mail

'This powerhouse novel is not for the fragile-hearted...one hell of a debut' Heat

'A smart, distinctive debut' Sunday Mirror