Changes

But it is fiction that has a number of real people and real events holding its framework together. I've always said you can learn a lot from the best story booksstorybooks, because it is the story that keeps you focussed, and the history just leaks in around the edges.

I haven't come across Russell before, but ''The City of Shadows'' was long-listed for the CWA John Creasey Dagger Award in 2013 , and with no further investigation there are enough hints in The City of Strangers to suggest that the previous book was a first outing for Gillespie. I am eager to find out what I missed so far – and to wonder if any of the characters will resurface in the even darker days to come after the end of this one. The author might have cut his teeth scripting Midsomer Murders and Frost, but this is a whole different league.