The brutal murder of ten-year-old Callum Bradley sent shockwaves across Scotland but, as the weeks have stretched on with no solid leads, the investigation has been scaled back. Sergeant Don Colyear, Community Police Officer, is tasked with tying up a loose end: a 999 call which may have hinted at the boy's murder. However, the call was made three weeks before the crime took place. The caller turns out to be a resident at an Edinburgh care home, drifting in and out of lucidity due to dementia. Enough to write off the potential lead as a dead end. But when a fresh murder disturbs the city, the clock is ticking path to catch a violent killer.
After an incident makes remaining in Glasgow impossible, Police Sergeant Don Colyear is sent to work in a remote Highlands town. His new Inspector wants him gone and the locals wonder why he's even there. Still, Don makes a go of things, striking up a good working relationship with rookie officer Rowan Forbes. As Don starts to investigate petty crimes, it soon becomes clear that there is something off about the town. A string of teenage disappearances has not been given due attention. Then there's the gruesome murder of the groundsman of the local sporting estate. Could the incidents be linked? As Don delves further into the town's secrets, it's not long until his own life is at risk.
SIX SCARY STORIES
SELECTED BY STEPHEN KING
Winning stories from The Bazaar of Bad Dreams Hodder-Guardian competition.
The Number 1 bestselling writer Stephen King presents six gripping and chilling stories in this captivating anthology:
WILD SWIMMING by Elodie Harper
EAU-DE-ERIC by Manuela Saragosa
THE SPOTS by Paul Bassett Davies
THE UNPICKING by Michael Button
LA MORT DE L'AMANT by Stuart Johnstone
THE BEAR TRAP by Neil Hudson
Stephen King discovered these stories when he judged a competition run by Hodder & Stoughton and the Guardian to celebrate publication of his own collection The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. He was so impressed with the entries that he recommended they were published together in one book.
Listeners beware: the stories will make you think twice before cuddling up to your old soft toy, dipping your toe into the water or counting the spots on a leopard...
(P) 2016 Hodder & Stoughton