Crossbones Yard was a burial ground once. Now it's wasteland, tucked away in the back streets of Borough beneath the shadow of the Shard. The perfect place to leave a body...

Alice Quentin finds the murder victim lying there - the woman's hand outstretched, as if begging for her help. A psychologist who sometimes works with the Metropolitan police, Alice is no stranger to sick minds. But this case is worse than anything she's seen before, and the killer is determined to make it personal.

A psychologist finds herself drawn into the dark world of a serial killer who may be closer than she thinks, in a brilliant debut selected for Harrogate Crime Festival's New Blood panel by Val McDermid.

About the Author
Kate Rhodes was born in London. She has worked as a teacher and university lecturer, and now writes full-time. Kate began her writing career as a poet, publishing two prizewinning collections. She has held a Hawthornden fellowship and been shortlisted for Forward and Bridport Prizes. She has written five novels in the Alice Quentin series, CROSSBONES YARD, A KILLING OF ANGELS, THE WINTER FOUNDLINGS, RIVER OF SOULS and BLOOD SYMMETRY, the first of which was selected by Val McDermid for the Harrogate Crime festival's New Blood panel championing new crime writers. In 2014 Kate Rhodes won the Ruth Rendell Short Story Award, sponsored by the charity InterAct. Visit her website at http://katerhodes.org or follow her on Twitter @K_RhodesWriter.

Reviews
There are some great twists, turns and surprises in this debut novel. * Sun *
Alice is a vividly realised protagonist whose complex and harrowing history rivals the central crime storyline * Sophie Hannah, Sunday Express *
Quentin is one of a cast of really believable and entertaining characters and both the plot and the writing keep one thoroughly engaged throughout. A stylish debut * Daily Mail *
A pacy psychological thriller that makes good use of its London setting. * Laura Wilson, Guardian *
What I liked most about CROSSBONES YARD was the fresh voice of the protagonist, a psychologist whose work with vulnerable patients spills over into her family life. Rhodes conjures up her London landscape vividly * Val McDermid *
Like Nicci French, Kate Rhodes excels at character, pace and sense of place. Alice Quentin is compelling and completely convincing: I look forward to following the series. * Erin Kelly *
An utterly brilliant, exhilarating read and I devoured every page. The characters, especially the bold and brave heroine, are touchingly real. Now that I've finished it I feel bereft, the only consolation being that it's the start of an Alice Quentin series and although I have a while to wait, I will get to read more.
A very impressive debut. After a powerful opening, Kate's vivid, pacy writing style swept me into the story. Alice is a very strong character, and the well-constructed, complex plot kept me intrigued right up to the end * Aline Templeton *
A fresh voice in crime fiction, bringing an intriguing and appealing central character in the form of psychologist Alice Quentin - who I expect to be with us for a long time to come. I loved the way the Kate Rhodes uses all the senses to draw the reader into her compelling fictional world. * Stephen Booth *
An atmospheric, smart, often terrifying read. * Louise Penny *



Book Information
ISBN 9781444738766
Author Kate Rhodes
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Mulholland Books
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Weight(grams) 225g
Dimensions(mm) 194mm * 126mm * 26mm