Querent: person for whom the tarot card reading is done
Rag: newspaper
Ram-raiding: robbery where a vehicle is rammed through a shop window
Randy: horny
Right state: messy
Ring: telephone (verb)
Roadworks: repairs done to roads
Scally: scallywag
Scroat: low life
Semi: Semi-detached house, house with another house joined to it on one side only
Shedload: a large amount
Shout the odds: talk in a loud bossy way
Sixth form college: school for high school students in final two years.
SIO: senior investigating officer
Skip: a large open container used for building waste
Slapper: slag
SOCO: scenes of crime officer, police officer who gathers forensic evidence
Sod: an annoying person
Sort: to do or make
Solicitor: lawyer
Stunner: beautiful woman
Super: superintendent (police rank)
Sweeting: endearment, like sweetheart
Tabloid: newspaper
Tea: Dinner (Northern English)
Till: cash register
Tipsy: a bit drunk
Toerag: a bad person
Ton: a hundred pounds
Torch: flashlight
Tutor: university teacher
Tower block: tall building/ high rise containing apartments (usually social housing)
Undertaker: mortician
Upmarket: affluent or fancy
Wash: the washing machine
Water board: company supplying water to an area
Wheelie bin: a large refuse bin on wheels
White van man: typical working-class man who drives a small truck
CHARACTER LIST
Detective Inspector Tom Calladine
He is single, just past fifty. He is tall, his hair used to be dark but is now greying and is cut close to his head. He has been on a health kick and lost weight, and improved his fitness. His daughter is called Zoe, she resulted from his short-lived marriage and he only found out about her recently. He has had a chequered love life, to say the least.
Detective Sergeant Ruth Bayliss
She is single in Dead Wrong but meets someone — teacher Jake Ireson, in Dead Silent. She’s in her mid-thirties, likes birdwatching. Works with Calladine at Leesdon police station. Has a baby son, Harry.
Detective Constable Simon Rockliffe — Rocco
A solid team member. He works hard and gets results. He is tipped to go far. He was attacked on the Hobfield in Dead Wrong. He has hinted that he might have a girlfriend but is giving nothing away.
Detective Constable Imogen Goode
In the last book, Dead Nasty, Imogen was brutally murdered. Losing her this way has devastated the team.
Detective Chief Inspector Rhona Birch
Rhona has the reputation of being a ‘hatchet queen.’ It is rumoured that she hasn’t stayed more than two years at any station. Much to Calladine’s surprise, it turns out that she has a son and an ex-husband. Calladine saw a new, emotional side to the woman when her son went missing in Australia.
Detective Inspector Stephen Greco
Detective at nearby Oldston police station. Ambitious.
Dr Sebastian Hoyle
Pathologist — now retired but working as a locum at Leesdon Health Centre. Often referred to as the doc.
Forensic scientist Batho
Unmarried, but was in a long-term relationship with Imogen Goode. He is hardworking and passionate about his work. Not particularly good-looking. He is now working at the Duggan Centre and has been elevated to Professor Batho.
Monika Smith
Care-home manager and former girlfriend of Calladine.
Freda Calladine
Tom’s late adopted mother — was resident in the care home run by Monika.
Eve Buckley – nee Walker
Eve is Calladine’s biological mother. They met for the first time in Dead List. He learned the truth about his birth from a letter his mother left for him to open after her death. Eve wants to try and put things right, to bring Calladine into her family.
Samantha Hurst
Eve’s daughter and therefore Calladine’s half-sister. She is a doctor at a hospital in Manchester. They met during Dead List but though he knew who she was, Samantha had no idea about him.
DC Nigel Hallam
Young, curly blonde hair and tipped to go far. He is keen to progress to CID.
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
AVAILABLE NOW BY HELEN H. DURRANT
Glossary of English Slang for US readers
CHARACTER LIST
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