DC Mel Cotton Crime Series

A severed head. A small-town detective. And a conspiracy that reaches far beyond a single murder: When an elderly woman walks into a police station carrying a box with her husband's head inside, DC Melanie Cotton knows this is no ordinary case. It's her first murder investigation—and her chance to prove herself. But what begins as a grotesque domestic mystery quickly spirals into something far darker. As Mel digs deeper, she uncovers a web of organised crime, hidden identities, and long-buried secrets stretching back decades. With each step closer to the truth, the danger grows—and so does the body count. Because someone will do anything to keep the past buried.

Fatal Trade is a gripping, fast-paced crime thriller and the explosive first instalment in the DC Mel Cotton series, perfect for fans of Peter James, M.W. Craven and Line of Duty.

Narrated by Miranda Pleasence (Notes on a Scandal, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall), whose compelling performance brings tension, wit and chilling intensity to every twist. Winner of the 2022 Chill With A Book Premier Readers' Award.