Ritual - by Paul V Walters (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

London 2023. A sadistic serial killer is on the loose.

Dragged out of retirement, DCI Moore returns to the Met in a bid to apprehend a deranged psychopathic killer. A particular chess piece is left behind at each crime scene, mirroring the slain victim's profession.

Moore's off-sider, DS Anderson, realises the killer selects his victims based on a particular chess move. However, the perpetrator, with meticulous planning and staging of his kills, is also following a sacred, sacrificial ritual that keeps him one step ahead in the "game."

Moore, desperate to achieve a result, is frustrated by the internal politics and glacial pace of the investigation. The momentum begins to move at breakneck speed when the killer ups the ante with two more slayings. Chillingly, the investigators discover the killer has chosen one of their own as his final victim.

Ritual is a novel full of twists and turns, which will keep readers fascinated until the last page.

Ritual was selected as one of two featured publications in the 2025 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, the largest book festival in Australasian and Southeast Asia.

"Promises a wild and exciting ride and delivers in spades." - Michael Jacobsen, News Ltd., Australia

"Walters' storytelling offers a gripping tale of suspense and intrigue sure to keep the reader captivated." - Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia

"A must for anyone who loves a great thriller." - Alana Woods, freelance reviewer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian

Ritual has been selected as one of two featured books for the 2025 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, the largest book festival in Australasia and Southeast Asia.