The Various Haunts of Men

A town of secrets. A series of disappearances. A killer lurking in plain sight. In the quiet cathedral town of Lafferton, a lonely woman vanishes during her morning run, followed by a series of other disappearances-a young girl, an old man, and even a dog. The police dismiss them as routine missing person cases, but new Detective Sergeant Freya Graffham can't shake the chilling sense that something far more sinister is at play. Alongside her enigmatic and aloof superior, Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler, she must unravel the mystery before the town's darkest secrets come to the surface. A suspenseful British mystery for fans of Ruth Rendell and P.D. James. This acclaimed debut of the Simon Serrailler series introduces readers to a compelling cast of characters and a case that defies conventional logic. - The Vanishing Point: A series of seemingly random disappearances rattles the peaceful community of Lafferton, pushing the police force to its limits.- The New Detective: Freya Graffham, new to the area, finds herself deeply and personally invested in the case, challenging the standard police procedure with her intuition.- The Enigmatic Chief: The debut novel offers a captivating first look at the complex and artistic Simon Serrailler, a detective who keeps his distance even as he hunts a killer. Richly atmospheric and psychologically astute, this mystery explores the disturbing connection between the missing and the dark forces that haunt the human mind. The killer's shocking motives and Hill's masterful pacing will keep you captivated until the final, unexpected twist. "I loved this book . . . Not all great novelists can write crime fiction, but when one like Susan Hill does it, the result is stunning." -Ruth Rendell

Dame Susan Hill is one of the UK's most accomplished and decorated living authors, a professional writer for over fifty years, and the author of the bestselling Simon Serrailler crime series. In 2020, she was awarded a damehood (DBE) for her services to literature. Her novels and short stories have won numerous awards, including the Whitbread, the Somerset Maugham, and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. She was also shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize. Hill is also the author of the internationally celebrated ghost story, The Woman in Black, which has been adapted into a long-running West End play and a major feature film. In addition to her crime and gothic fiction, her extensive body of work also includes literary novels, children's books, and autobiographical works. She lives in North Norfolk with her family.