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THE UNFORGETTABLE LEGAL THRILLER FROM THE QUEEN OF CRIME DRAMA, LYNDA LA PLANTE
Eight years ago, James McCready was convicted of killing his partner, Gary Meadows. But McCready has always claimed that the stabbing was a tragic accident and, when fresh evidence comes to light, he wins his appeal for a retrial.
Detective Inspector Pat North is assigned to the reinvestigation. But when North discovers that her partner, Detective Superintendent Mike Walker, led the original police inquiry, their fledgling relationship is put to the test - particularly when she starts to suspect that he is covering something up.
Could Walker have tampered with evidence to frame an innocent man? And if so, who is the real killer?
Eight years ago, James McCready was convicted of killing his partner, Gary Meadows. But McCready has always claimed that the stabbing was a tragic accident and, when fresh evidence comes to light, he wins his appeal for a retrial.
Detective Inspector Pat North is assigned to the reinvestigation. But when North discovers that her partner, Detective Superintendent Mike Walker, led the original police inquiry, their fledgling relationship is put to the test - particularly when she starts to suspect that he is covering something up.
Could Walker have tampered with evidence to frame an innocent man? And if so, who is the real killer?
400 pages, Paperback
Published March 24, 2026
649 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Lynda La Plante
134 books1,863 followersLynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda Titchmarsh) is a British author, screenwriter, and erstwhile actress (her performances in Rentaghost and other programmes were under her stage name of Lynda Marchal), best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 25, 2026
You are truly missing out if you have not read a book by Lynda La Plante, in my opinion she's the master of crime drama, her books never let you down.
In this book, the reader is taken on an intriguing journey following an investigation into the conviction of a prisoner who has won an appeal after his case was the focus of media attention. The burning question is - was his conviction safe or was the evidence tampered with?
This novel brings together DS Mike Walker and DI Pat North, and I love this duo, their dynamic and their distinct temperaments. In addition, throughout the book you meet an array of well-written, complex characters and the realistic aspects of their personalities make this so enjoyable to read.
The plot is just the right amount of exciting and intricate, without being overloaded and confusing and there is not a single point where you get bored or you can predict the outcome, and that is the best quality a crime drama can have.
I highly recommend this absorbing read, superbly written of course, from one of the best crime writers around today.
In this book, the reader is taken on an intriguing journey following an investigation into the conviction of a prisoner who has won an appeal after his case was the focus of media attention. The burning question is - was his conviction safe or was the evidence tampered with?
This novel brings together DS Mike Walker and DI Pat North, and I love this duo, their dynamic and their distinct temperaments. In addition, throughout the book you meet an array of well-written, complex characters and the realistic aspects of their personalities make this so enjoyable to read.
The plot is just the right amount of exciting and intricate, without being overloaded and confusing and there is not a single point where you get bored or you can predict the outcome, and that is the best quality a crime drama can have.
I highly recommend this absorbing read, superbly written of course, from one of the best crime writers around today.
March 20, 2026
Another terrific read by Lynda La Plante. The story revolves around a potentially innocent man being sent to prison for murdering his partner. A reputable defence barrister has taken on the case to free this man. A TV show production crew even gets on board to reveal the inaccuracies of the original case and in the process expose what they believe is corruption in the police force.
The side story running parallel to the main plot involves the police officer accused of tampering with evidence in the above case whilst trying to navigate his relationship with his police officer girlfriend who is also involved in the above case.
As always La Plante perfectly covers the court room proceedings.
This is a short book packed with a lot of punch. I really enjoyed it. Can’t go wrong with his author.
The side story running parallel to the main plot involves the police officer accused of tampering with evidence in the above case whilst trying to navigate his relationship with his police officer girlfriend who is also involved in the above case.
As always La Plante perfectly covers the court room proceedings.
This is a short book packed with a lot of punch. I really enjoyed it. Can’t go wrong with his author.
December 30, 2025
Pretty good.
Lynda La Plante is predictably on form, and you kind of know what to expect from her crime books..
As good a read as any other of her many crime and court thrillers. As always, this is eminently readable. Not blow you away readable, but good enough to entertain and enjoy without any huge surprises. As I said, pretty good.
Lynda La Plante is predictably on form, and you kind of know what to expect from her crime books..
As good a read as any other of her many crime and court thrillers. As always, this is eminently readable. Not blow you away readable, but good enough to entertain and enjoy without any huge surprises. As I said, pretty good.
March 12, 2026
McCready was found guilty of murdering his partner. Eight years later new evidence suggest it might have been a tragic accident. Did D S Mike Walker allow personal animosity to influence the original enquiry.
January 15, 2026
Very dated
This seems very amateurish for this esteemed author! Totally predictable and very dated! Unlike,Agatha Christie books, this one has NOT stood the test of time!
This seems very amateurish for this esteemed author! Totally predictable and very dated! Unlike,Agatha Christie books, this one has NOT stood the test of time!
February 13, 2026
appeal
Great short novel by La plante plenty of depth and twists and turns a must read if you are a lover of the La plante
Great short novel by La plante plenty of depth and twists and turns a must read if you are a lover of the La plante
March 11, 2026
Not bad
I've read loads of books by Lynda and whilst this isn't her best by a long way it is entertaining and to me that's what matters
I've read loads of books by Lynda and whilst this isn't her best by a long way it is entertaining and to me that's what matters
March 21, 2026
standard LLP, murder mystery appeal solved. bit of family drama too
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews