The House beyond the Trees
A man murdered in mysterious and seemingly random circumstances.
An unidentified victim. An abandoned car.
And a killer who vanished into the night.
Called in as a favour to assist the baffled police, private detective John “Slim” Hardy is confronted with a case that at first appears to make no sense at all. The victim's identity is unknown, the motive elusive, and every lead is a dead end.
But as Slim slowly unravels the mystery, the trail leads him beyond the present day and deep into the past. What begins as a seemingly senseless murder draws him to the gates of a reclusive family's estate, and a long-hidden tragedy.
In the house beyond the trees lies a secret that has remained hidden for decades—and there are those who would do anything to keep it that way.
The John “Slim” Hardy mysteries have captivated thousands of readers around the world. Now Slim returns in what may be his most challenging case yet.
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Jack Benton
Chris Ward (writing as Jack Benton) hails from Cornwall in the UK. Since 2003 he has lived and worked in Japan where he is married and owns two cats.
At age eleven, he won a competition for a short story. He wrote his first novel at the age of 18 and published his first professional short story in Weird Tales 352 in 2008. In 2012 he published his first novel, The Tube Riders. Since then he has published a further seven novels to positive reviews and acclaim.
In addition to writing, he enjoys travelling, hiking in summer, snowboarding in winter, and plays guitar in a local rock band.
The Slim Hardy Mysteries
The Slim Hardy Mysteries consists of ten books and series is set to expand with the upcoming release of one more book. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
