Set in and around the dark, misty canals of Lichfield, Stephen Booth's incredible new novel is awash with mystery.

When council officer Chris Buckley is approached by an odd old man demanding help in healing a decades-old family rift, he sends the stranger away.

But then the old man is murdered, and the police arrive on the Chris's doorstep asking questions to which he has no answers.

As Chris begins to look into the circumstances of the murder, he uncovers a deadly secret in the silt and mud of the local canals that he'll realise was better kept buried.

PRAISE FOR STEPHEN BOOTH

'Makes high summer as terrifying as midwinter'
Val McDermid

'A modern master'
Guardian

'Crime writing of the finest quality'
Daily Mail

'Ingenious plotting and richly atmospheric'
Reginald Hill

'A first-rate mystery'
Sunday Telegraph

About the Author
Stephen Booth is the internationally bestselling, CWA Dagger-winning author of the acclaimed thrillers featuring Cooper and Fry. The series is in development as a TV programme. Booth lives in Nottingham.

Reviews
Clever, beautifully written and superbly plotted, this is an entertaining page-turner with a compelling twist in the tail. * Lancashire Evening Post *

The brooding presence of Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District, hangs over Stephen Booth's
fine novel Fall down Dead

* Sunday Times *
The historical details add fascinating depth to this big fat mystery * Evening Standard *
Stephen Booth (of the Cooper & Fry police series) has written a crackerjack standalone novel in Drowned Lives * Winnipeg Free Press *
The Peak District setting is as striking as ever . . . the ever-present threat of violence will get under your skin. * Real Crime *
The master of this territory * Sunday Express *
This is an enjoyable, very readable yet understated crime novel by an accomplished author. * Crime Fiction Lover *
The highest of the Derbyshire peaks is the dramatic setting . . . Gripping * The Times *
The underlying mystery and the moments of high drama place the novel firmly in the crime genre, but the mix of ingredients adds up to far more. Drowned Lives is Stephen Booth at the top of his game * Mystery People *
An interesting and absorbing personal read that I enjoyed as a fan of Booth's many other crime thrillers. I am sure book clubs will love the theme and have much to discuss and unravel * NB *
An elegant reflection of what's happening in the country at large. * The Book Bag *
All through the book is a chilld atsmophere and it gives a tight edginess to the tale. Another excellent read from Booth * Sunday Sport *
Packed with the misty atmosphere of the Saffordshire canals . . . I loved both the historical and modern storylines and the moody waterways' backdrop * Peterborough Evening Telegraph *
I love reading about these characters. I love the world in which Ben moves and I really enjoy the cases with which he is confronted. I always look forward to the next installment of this wonderful series. * For Winter Nights *
A compelling read with well-developed characters. Equally fascinating was the way the background to the group of hikers was revealed, and eventually the killer was unmasked. But I didn't guess who! Most highly recommended * Mystery People *
As ever in Booth's long-running, award-winning and hugely popular Peak District series, it's the extraordinary landscape and its often violent history that most captivates the reader * Morning Star *
The plot is good, with plenty of twists and a villain I didn't spot even though there were plenty of clues * The Book Bag (blog) *



Book Information
ISBN 9780751576283
Author Stephen Booth
Format Hardback
Page Count 432
Imprint Sphere
Publisher Little, Brown Book Group
Weight(grams) 700g
Dimensions(mm) 162mm * 240mm * 40mm