The Fallen Angel
A ritualistic murder. Sacred ground. Powerful enemies. DS Ballantyne’s trials are only just starting.
Christopher Piper, Middlehampton Cathedral’s fiery artist in residence, is found crucified at the altar, a bloody message daubed at his feet.
DS Kat Ballantyne knows this will be no ordinary case. The killer’s message was deliberate. The staging was precise. Who hated Christopher enough to desecrate this holy place?
The cathedral is preparing for its 500-year celebrations. Church leaders want the crime scene cleared and the scandal contained. Her own superiors demand results. But someone wants the truth buried.
Teaming up with brilliant, quirky forensic specialist Dr Hannah Fellowes, Kat begins to unravel a tangled web of religious symbolism, church politics, corruption and human weakness. As powerful forces close ranks, the investigation becomes a race against time.
An invitation to join a powerful group offers hope. What she discovers there shakes Kat’s faith in who she can trust—and who she should suspect. Because in a cathedral of lies, even the most sacred truths can be deadly.
The series
In the gritty underbelly of the city, where corruption runs deep and danger is never far behind, Detective Kat Ballantyne stands as an unflinching force of justice. The Detective Kat Ballantyne series invites readers into a dark world of suspense, where every case is a puzzle, and no one is as innocent as they seem.
Read full series description
Kat is a seasoned detective with a razor-sharp mind and an unwavering moral compass—traits that both serve her well and complicate her personal life. Tasked with solving cases that range from heart-stopping murder mysteries to complex conspiracies, Kat’s determination to uncover the truth often pushes her into dangerous territory, where she must confront not only the criminals she pursues but the ghosts of her own past.
With every investigation, Kat navigates a city that is as much a character in the story as the people she encounters. The tension between right and wrong, truth and deception, runs through the city’s very streets. Andy Maslen masterfully weaves a tapestry of suspense, offering readers not only high-stakes crime solving but a deep dive into the psyche of a woman who has seen it all and still holds onto her integrity.
What sets this series apart is its rich character development. Kat isn’t just a detective—she’s a woman battling her own demons, grappling with loss, and making tough decisions that reveal her vulnerability and strength. The people she meets, from allies to enemies, are multi-dimensional, making every interaction pulse with tension and unpredictability.
As the Detective Kat Ballantyne series unfolds, it plunges readers deeper into a world where justice isn’t always clear-cut, and the line between right and wrong is often blurred. Maslen's writing is taut, atmospheric, and utterly immersive, leaving readers at the edge of their seats, eager to see where Kat's journey will take her next.
For fans of gritty detective novels that balance action with emotional depth, the Detective Kat Ballantyne series is an unforgettable ride. Each twist and turn pulls readers further into Kat’s world—one where nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and the cost of uncovering the truth may be more than she’s willing to pay.
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