Playing the Devil's Music
A Satanic serial killer returns. There's just one problem. He's in jail.
A dead man crucified on an oak tree used by pagans. A pentagram carved into his chest. Antlers adorning his lifeless body. A horrific discovery in the autopsy room. All hallmarks of infamous serial killer Ulrik Ahlgren - the 'Brain Surgeon'. It should be an open-and-shut case. Except Ahlgren is currently locked up in Kumla Bunker, Sweden's secure prison for its most deranged killers.
After committing a serious criminal offence against a senior officer, Detective Inspector Stella Cole is out of Stockholm Homicide. But as the killings mount, her superiors realise they have no choice but to bring her back. Only the 'Queen of Weirdness' has the insights and the experience to solve the case.
The killer is copying every aspect of Ulrik Ahlgren's horrific crimes. Stella's new colleagues in the county town of Örebro are convinced it's a classic master-disciple set-up. But as Stella investigates, she spots more and more oddities. Aspects of the gruesome MO don't fit the pattern. She realises something else is in play. She visits Ulrik Ahlgren in the Bunker to ask for his help.
As her investigation takes her deep into the world of outlaw biker gangs and the Swedish death metal scene, it's another serial killer she turns to for help when everything appears lost. Not just for the case, but for Stella herself.
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Andy Maslen
Andy Maslen is an author whose gripping thrillers and sharp, fast-paced narratives have captivated readers around the world. With a knack for creating high-octane, edge-of-your-seat plots, Andy's novels draw readers into a world where danger lurks around every corner and nothing is quite as it seems.
Born and raised in the UK, Andy's early career was in marketing and advertising, where he honed his skills as a writer, learning how to grab attention and keep people hooked. But after years of crafting ads, he decided to turn his hand to something more personal—fiction. His transition from the world of advertising to the realm of suspense and thriller writing was a natural one. The same instincts that made him a successful copywriter—an understanding of pacing, suspense, and compelling characters—became the backbone of his novels.
Stella Cole
Stella Cole consists of eight primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
