Noonan knew exactly who it was who would be cremated. He had done his homework, and knew the press had wanted to attend. There had also been many email enquiries by members of the public, and plenty of trolling. The most surprising was an official letter from HMP Bronzefield, requesting a CD copy of the service to be supplied. The crematorium had the facilities for live streaming for those relatives who were unable to attend a ceremony, and they could keep copies. But he had never before heard of a prisoner being able to request one. If the prison authorities were prepared to allow it he could see no reason to refuse. The grandmother had requested no hymns nor prayers, no eulogy nor description of the life of this mysterious man. That left him with most of the allotted forty-five minutes of the service to fill. He decided that he would have time for most of Fauré’s Requiem and a full committal. In the middle, however, he had to say something. He was saved by a letter, received the day before, which just had a few lines.

My love,

I don’t have a name for you now that I’m sure about, but I do have many wonderful memories. I knew you just a few months, and despite all your faults and many deceits your touch upon me will be indelible.

Ellen xx

Afterword

I have taken some liberties with the geography of Surrey for the purposes of the plot. There are no sizeable railway embankments near Pirbright, and the villages of Shildon and Westmeare are fictitious. Lacey Dutton, a village which first appeared in The Body on the Shore, reappears here in its full and charming glory. If it existed I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to afford a house there. The new development of Shepherd’s Rest near Woking is also fictitious, though obviously similar to many that actually exist.

I would like to thank Home Office forensic pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton for carefully checking my forensic and post-mortem scenes, and retired Detective Inspector Kim Booth for his insight and knowledge. I was also helped by Simon Thomas, crew manager at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, on the river rescue scenes. Thanks also to Mark Buckle, to the media relations team at British Transport Police, Duncan Claber at South Western Railway, and Kiat Huang for his knowledge of mobile phones. Any mistakes remaining are my own.

Michael Bhaskar and the Canelo team as always were enthusiastic backers of the book. Miranda Ward did an excellent editing job. Tim Cary, Cheryl Cullingford and Sara Wescott, my readers’ circle, made invaluable suggestions. Above all is my wife and first reader, Louise, to whom this book is dedicated.

Next in Series

Next in DCI Craig Gillard Crime Thrillers:

The Body on the Island

He was never truly gone, only biding his time…

Find out more

The Body on the Island

Don’t miss Nick Louth’s next thriller, coming in October 2020.