Chief Inspector James Hardy

When Inspector James Hardy learns the body of a young woman discovered in the River Thames is that of a friend, his life goes into a tail-spin. The victim’s flatmate is on the run for her life. She could be the key to catching the killer. In a race against time, Hardy must track her down before the killer does. As the truth behind the investigation unfolds, Hardy’s own family come under threat. With two young daughters to protect and an investigation that twists and turns, Hardy finds himself pushed to the limit.

Detective Chief Inspector James Hardy is enjoying a rare day out with his two young daughters when he makes the mistake of answering his phone—it's his boss. A young mother, out walking her baby, has been murdered in broad daylight. Followed quickly, by a second terrifying, vicious attack on a young woman who's a family friend of Hardy and his daughters. Shaken and heartbroken, Hardy assists the team leading the investigation into a killer dubbed the Regent's Park Ripper.

Detective Chief Inspector James Hardy’s caseload is bursting at the seams. A serial murderer dubbed The Angel Killer is stalking young women in and around London, and an assassin is picking off high-profile political figures one by one, with his ultimate target being the prime minister herself. Both cases land squarely on Hardy’s desk even as he struggles to rebuild a stable home for himself and his two young daughters after the senseless murder of their mother.

James Hardy has walked away from Scotland Yard and has found love again, making a fresh start in a small seaside town. With his new career as a consultant taking off and the demons of the past behind him, Hardy's life couldn't be better. But the peace is about to be shattered. When a series of shocking murders take place in the seaside town, Hardy is contacted by local detective for advice. Hardy learns the disturbing crimes have all the hallmarks of a serial killer linked to his past.

DCI James Hardy was hoping for a quiet life. He stepped away from his career at Scotland Yard and moved his family to the south coast to start over. But now the past is catching up with him. Hardy recently learned that Edward Fischer, the man he arrested for a string of killings, is also the man who orchestrated his wife's murder. And now, Fischer has escaped from prison and is on the run. Fischer is a free man, and before he disappears for good, he's looking for compensation from Hardy.

Inspector Hardy has retreated to Dorset on the south coast where he plans to spend long overdue quality time with his young daughters and pregnant partner. The sabbatical is short-lived when he is thrust back into the dark world of murder after a family with twin boys is found dead at their home in the countryside. Hardy pulls together a small team to investigate the devastating crime, which is the latest in a series of similar crimes. With no apparent motive and the only similarity between the families being twin boys, the team struggle to hunt a killer who seems unstoppable.

When teenager Leanne Churcher stormed out from the family home after another clash with her mother, she went to stay with a friend. She'd left the family home under a cloud before; after a day or two she always came home. Always. She usually just needed some time to cool off. After all, teenagers can be like that. Right? When after a few days she didn't return, and no trace of her can be found, the family begin to panic. The police assume she's an angry teenager whose run away. Why wouldn't they? There's no evidence to suggest foul play of any kind.