September 1950 and Inspector Ryga is on his first case

It's September 1950 and England is still reeling from the aftermath of war with austerity and rationing biting hard.  This is Scotland Yard's Inspector Alun Ryga's first murder case outside London when he's sent to the Royal Island of Portland in Dorset to investigate the death of a man in a pin-striped suit found in the isolated Church Ope Cove.

Church Ope Cove, Portland is accessible only by foot or boat. It is a stunning location on the rugged Island of Portland in Dorset and therefore the perfect place for me to set down a body!

A dead man is found by former war photographer Eva Paisley in a secluded bay on Portland Island. The victim was stabbed in the neck with a narrow-bladed knife.

Inspector Alun Ryga is called from Scotland Yard to investigate. But no one in the local community seems to know who the victim is.

The man appears to have been a labourer, but he is found dressed in a tailored pinstriped suit, silk underwear, handmade shoes and rare pink-diamond cufflinks. Something about him doesn’t add up . . .

Ryga quickly establishes a good working relationship with Eva Paisley. But the local police warn Ryga not to trust her.

It’s Ryga’s first solo investigation outside of London. He’s keen to prove his worth. But will it cost him his life?

Meet Inspector Ryga of Scotland Yard’s Murder Squad.

Having survived WW2 in a prisoner of war camp, he’s vowed to get justice for those who need it. Ryga is sent out with only a moment's notice to assist in baffling coastal crimes around Britain.

"Inspector Ryga is an engaging lead character, shaped by his war-time experiences to be a sensitive, astute detective.The interesting setting of post-war Britain is soaked in atmosphere and I loved the complex, twisting plot. Historical crime-writing at its very best." Amazon

'An enjoyable book, with a good plot and descriptive story-telling. A great read, recommended to crime fans.' BH Living Magazine.