Manon Bradshaw of Missing, Presumed is back only she is now pregnant, attached to the Cambridgeshire police but working on cold cases until a murder occurs close to the school her adopted son attends. He is arrested for it. He is 12-years old. Written in alternative chapters between herself and a man who was once her junior, DS Davy Walker and a good friend, we follow the detail of police procedure over thirty-two days, straddling Christmas. Davy gives us the detail, Manon the family drama, spotted in between is the odd narrative from a few suspects, and others involved. It is both riveting and fascinating. Manon’s adopted son is black, so lots of problems in Cambridgeshire. Manon shares a house with her single mum sister and the girl’s autistic (although no-one says so), 2-year old toddler, Solomon. The boy’s father reappears and wants contact with his son which complicates the story, a story full of twists. Great stuff.
Fromtheauthor ofMissing, Presumed,a complicated detectiveinvestigates her mostpersonal case yet.Detective Manon Bradshaw is five months pregnant and has given up on finding romantic love. Instead, she is in hot pursuit of work-life balance and parked in a cold case corridorthe price shes had to pay for a transfer back to Cambridgeshire. This is fine, she tells herself. She can devote herself to bringing up her adopted twelve-year-old son, Fly Dent, and the new baby. Fly needed a fresh start anywayhe was always being stopped and searched in London by officers who couldnt see past the color of his skin.Yet when a wealthy businessman is found stabbed close to police headquarters, Manon cant help but sidle in on the briefing. Shes horrified to discover that the victim and the prime suspect are more closely linked to her than she could have imagined. And as the Cambridgeshire police force closes ranks against her, Manon is forced to contemplate the unthinkable: How well does she know her loved ones, and are they capable of murder?
'Susie Steiner goes from strength to strength: Persons Unknown is by turns tense and tender, gripping and moving, and always beautifully written. I didn't read this book so much as live it: DI Manon Bradshaw is so convincingly human that I often wonder what she's up to now Erin Kelly, author of He Said, She Said
'Missing, Presumed was one of the best crime novels I've read in years - Persons Unknown is even better. Susie Steiner writes so brilliantly, creating characters who take possession of your mind and your heart. This is a compelling, gripping novel, a superb continuation of a series that is taking crime fiction into new and exciting territory' Jane Casey, author of Let the Dead Speak
'The best new crime series in years' Sarah Perry
'Superb storytelling - a joy to read. I am hooked on Manon Bradshaw' Renee Knight, author of Disclaimer
'Stylish, literary fiction at its very best' Peter James
'It's even better than Missing, Presumed. It's ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. It's the best thing I've read in months and months. So intelligent about men and women and children, and love or the lack of it, and about LIFE... and the writing!' India Knight
'A second adventure that strikes all the right notes - layered mystery, incisive cultural context, and a delightful protagonist who deserves a place alongside other beloved literary detectives' Kirkus Reviews
Author
About Susie Steiner
Susie Steiner began her writing career as a news reporter first on local papers, then on the Evening Standard, the Daily Telegraph and The Times. In 2001 she joined the Guardian, where she worked as a commissioning editor for 11 years. Her first novel, Homecoming - described as 'truly exceptional' by the Observer - was published by Faber & Faber in 2013. She lives in London with her husband and two children.
