MOTH CATCHER

Life seems perfect in Valley Farm, a quiet community in Northumberland. Then a shocking discovery shatters the dream. This was a new case that was different from anything Vera had ever worked on before. Two bodies, connected, but not lying together. The owners of a big country estate had employed a house-sitter, a young ecologist named Patrick to look after the place while they're away. But Patrick is found dead by the side of the lane leading into the valley. DI Vera Stanhope arrives on the scene with her detectives Holly and Joe. When they look around the big house, Vera finds the body of a second man. All the two victims have in common is a fascination with moths and catching these beautiful, intriguing creatures. The others who live in the Valley Farm development have secrets too - Lorraine's calm demeanour belies a more complex personality; Annie and Sam's daughter Lizzie is due to be released from prison, and Nigel watches, silently and every day from his window. As Vera is drawn into the claustrophobic world of this increasingly strange community, she realises that the secrets trapped here may be deadly. 385pp, paperback.