The fourth gripping novel in the original and authentic crime series featuring Carl Houseman and his team.

‘Michael Connolly, eat your heart out.’ Frances Fyfield

‘It’s morning. Deputy Sheriff Carl Houseman is not due on shift for several hours. The phone rings: a woman is dead, suspected suicide. The dispatcher can’t reveal the details; it’s a Code 61. Something serious has happened over at the Mansion and he's not allowed to ask too many questions over the radio.

‘Harstad is a retired Iowa cop, and his books have a powerful seal of authenticity.’ Guardian

‘The endearingly wry first-person narration is splendidly handled; and the characterisation is very good.’ Colin Dexter

‘Harstad evokes small-town America wonderfully and his decent, honest hero is beautifully drawn.’ Irish Independent

‘Harstad’s books are terrific and really capture the atmosphere of small-town America, where the 20th-century almost seems to have slipped by unnoticed.’ Independent on Sunday

‘Brilliant. Harstad knows his stuff, sifting the evidence with enlightening attention to detail.’ FHM

‘Harstad’s first-hand experience ensures his storytelling always rings true.’ Arena

Donald Harstad is a twenty-six year veteran of the Clayton County Sheriff’s Department in northeastern Iowa where he was a former deputy sheriff. He is the author of three earlier crime stories featuring Carl Houseman: ELEVEN DAYS, THE KNOWN DEAD and THE BIG THAW.