JOINT WINNER OF THE EUROPEAN CRIME FICTION STAR ‘RIPPER’ AWARD 2018/19 Simon Beckett is the No.1 International Bestselling author of the David Hunter series. His books have been translated into 29 languages, appeared in the Sunday Times Top 10 bestseller lists and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. A former freelance journalist who has written for The Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent on Sunday and The Observer, the inspiration for the first David Hunter novel came after a visit to the world-renowned Body Farm in Tennessee introduced him to the work of forensic anthropologists. As well as co-winning the Ripper Award in 2018/19, the largest European crime prize, Simon has won the Raymond Chandler Society’s ‘Marlowe’ Award and been short-listed for the CWA Gold Dagger, CWA Dagger in the Library and Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year. In addition to the six David Hunter titles, the most recent of which is The Scent of Death, he has written five standalone novels, one of which, Where There’s Smoke, was adapted into a major ITV two-part drama. Find out more on www.simonbeckett.com, or follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. REVIEWS "Simon Beckett’s sixth novel featuring the forensic anthropologist David Hunter is arguably his best . . . a superbly strong read." (Marcel Berlins THE TIMES) “Brilliantly original ... Simon’s first crime novel The Chemistry of Death absolutely blew me away and he just gets better by the book!" (PETER JAMES) "A satisfyingly dark and twisting thriller." (MAIL ON SUNDAY) "An arresting setup . . . Beckett has regained his best form . . . the exigencies of a macabre investigative thriller are dispatched with characteristic aplomb." (Barry Forshaw FINANCIAL TIMES) "Beckett's masterful storytelling and macabre forensic details make his novels utterly chilling reads." (TESS GERRITSEN) "The forensics are chillingly authentic, the writing is both taut and beautifully atmospheric.’ (ANN CLEEVES) ‘Terrifying… Rarely have the mechanics of suspense been so effectively realized outside an Alfred Hitchcock movie.’ (THE DAILY EXPRESS) ‘Beckett is one of the country’s best crime writers… His books are intelligent, beautifully written and utterly gripping.’ (THE SUNDAY EXPRESS)