A shocking murder at the Palace of Westminster draws Edinburgh's toughest cop into a complex new case...

Skinner is plunged into a web of politics and enemies in STATE SECRETS, the twenty-eighth mystery in Quintin Jardine's bestselling crime series. Not to be missed by readers of Ian Rankin and Peter May. Praise for Quintin Jardine's gritty novels: 'Well constructed, fast-paced...many an ingenious twist and turn' Observer

Former Chief Constable Bob Skinner is long out of the police force but trouble has a habit of following him around. So it is that he finds himself in the Palace of Westminster as a shocking act befalls the nation.

Hours before the Prime Minister is due to make a controversial statement, she is discovered in her office with a letter opener driven through her skull.

Is the act political? Personal? Or even one of terror?

Skinner is swiftly enlisted by the Security Service to lead the investigation. Reunited with Met Police Commander Neil McIlhenney, he has forty-eight hours to crack the case - before the press unleash their wrath.

There are many in the tangled web of government with cause to act. But the outcome will be one that not even Skinner himself could predict...

About the Author
Quintin Jardine was born once upon a time in the West - of Scotland rather than America, but still he grew to manhood as a massive Sergio Leone fan. On the way there he was educated, against his will, in Glasgow, where he ditched a token attempt to study law for more interesting careers in journalism, government propaganda, and political spin-doctoring. After a close call with the Brighton Bomb in 1984, he moved into the even riskier world of media relations consultancy, before realising that all along he had been training to become a crime writer. Now, forty novels later, he never looks back. Along the way he has created/acquired an extended family in Scotland and Spain. Everything he does is for them. He can be tracked down through his blog: http://quintinjardine.me

Reviews
Praise for Quintin Jardine: 'If Ian Rankin is the Robert Carlyle of Scottish crime writers, then Jardine is surely its Sean Connery' * Glasgow Herald *
Well constructed, fast-paced, Jardine's narrative has many an ingenious twist and turn * Observer *
Very engaging as well as ingenious, and the unraveling of the mystery is excellently done -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *
Another cracker from Jardine... Plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep you engrossed * Scots Magazine *
Remarkably assured, raw-boned, a tour de force * New York Times *
If you're looking for a detective whose personal life is as active, contradictory and complicated as his job then follow the Edinburgh exploits of Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner in Quintin Jardine's Skinner series * Radio Times *
Deplorably readable * Guardian *
Compelling stuff * Oxford Times *
Gritty cop drama that makes Taggart look tame * Northern Echo *
More twists and turns than TV's Taggart at its best * Stirling Observer *
I love the Bob Skinner novels. Quintin Jardine's slick and suspenseful Edinburgh-set series has never failed to keep me riveted... Starts with a bang and doesn't let up till the last sentence * Globe and Mail *



Book Information
ISBN 9781472205742
Author Quintin Jardine
Format Hardback
Page Count 400
Imprint Headline Book Publishing
Publisher Headline Publishing Group
Weight(grams) 650g
Dimensions(mm) 237mm * 162mm * 35mm