Ash and bone

John Harvey is the father of some of the most iconic detectives in noir literature. Creator of Charlie Resnick—who placed it on The Times' list of the best detective novels of the century—his new series, starring Frank Elder, reveals a depth rarely found in the genre. And it cements him as one of the most talented British writers working today, with plots that blend, in a frighteningly balanced way, tenderness and cruelty. In Ash and Bone, Frank Elder lives a spartan and lonely existence on the isolated Cornish coast. Searching for peace, he tries to understand what went wrong in his marriage, his wife's infidelity, an inescapable one. Seeking isolation, he abandons everything familiar: his career as a detective, his wife, and his teenage daughter, Katherine. But his retreat is shattered by a phone call from his ex-wife, concerned about her daughter's increasingly erratic behavior. Elder's fears are compounded by feelings of guilt: it was his involvement in a case that led to the young woman's kidnapping and rape. His growing concern about the girl leads him back into action: Elder reopens an investigation that could have devastating repercussions for the entire homicide division. And he must learn to control his own demons to uncover the truth. Horrifying, indispensable, essential, Ash and Bones tackles multiple themes—domestic and sexual violence, corruption, murder. Harvey hits the nail on the head again, shaking nerves and racing hearts, as he leads us steadily through a complex plot whose various elements are perfectly aligned. John Harvey is also the author of Lonely Hearts, chosen by the Times as one of the “100 best crime novels of the century.” “Harvey perfects the serial killer novel, adding a brain and a heart.” Time Out