He’ll never speak of the evil they did… A former Swedish ambassador lies dead in his swanky Mayfair flat. With his tongue torn out and placed on a Bible. Competing theories swirl. A religious maniac? A psychopath? The truth is far darker than either. DCI Stella Cole’s search for the killer takes her to Sweden. There, she discovers a horrific chapter in the country’s history that throws the case into turmoil. And then more people start dying. Teaming up with Swedish cops Oskar Norgrim and Johanna Carlsson, Stella pieces together Ambassador Brömly’s shocking past. And discovers the killer’s motive. Meanwhile, Stella's personal life is about to take a significant turn as her boyfriend, Jamie, suggests a change in their relationship. But as Stella tries to process what it means, she makes a fateful decision. Why won't the dead stay buried? On the other side of the Atlantic, a kid practising BMX stunts over water finds a skeleton on a lake bed. When the victim is revealed to be a British cop, the FBI ask for assistance. Stella’s arch-enemy from her own department gets the case. She flies to Chicago and soon discovers the murderer’s identity. The scene is set for a showdown in Sweden as DI Roisin Griffin pursues her vendetta against Stella all the way to the north of Sweden during the annual festival of Midsommar. A fast-paced, twisty crime thriller … Even as Stella is fighting to bring the killer to justice, shadowy figures from her past are planning to silence her before she can expose their brutal methods. Readers’ opinions “As usual the plot is multifaceted, fast and absorbing and in my opinion the best in the Stella Cole series to date. If you are looking for a high octane thriller this is definitely the book for you!” Nigel Saunders “As an avid reader of detective books, I can honestly say this is the best series ever. From book 1 through to book 5, each and every one leaves you desperately waiting or wanting to read the next one. The characters are real, they're tough and they're exciting.” Annette “Brilliant read from start to finish. Twists, turmoil, and great detective work. Stella at her best. Higher Ups, looking to protect themselves. Andy Maslen does it again.” A McCulloch The fifth novel in an enthralling series A Beautiful Breed of Evil is the fifth book in this series of hard-hitting crime thrillers. Much of the action takes place in Sweden, home to fictional detectives Martin Beck, Kurt Wallander, Harry Hole and Saga Norén. BUY A BEAUTIFUL BREED OF EVIL NOW