The Pure in Heart - (Simon Serrailler Mystery) by Susan Hill (Paperback)

About the Book

In this follow-up to "The Various Haunts of Men," Detective Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler is on vacation in Venice, trying to come to terms with the brutal murder of a young woman who had been in love with him. His trip is cut short after he is summoned home, where a little boy has been snatched.

Book Synopsis

What happens to a town when a child disappears without a trace?

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Serrailler is still grappling with the unresolved murder of a colleague when a call summons him back to the English cathedral town of Lafferton. A nine-year-old boy, David Angus, has been snatched from his own front gate.

The police investigation is relentless, but as days turn into weeks, the boy's family begins to unravel under the immense grief and suspicion.

A haunting psychological mystery for fans of Ruth Rendell and P.D. James.

In the second installment of Susan Hill's acclaimed British series, the town is rocked by multiple crises:

• The unraveling of a family: As the boy's disappearance wears on, the Angus family is torn apart by despair and secrets.
• The struggle for redemption: An ex-con, recently returned to Lafferton, finds it nearly impossible to escape his past and the prejudice of his community.
• A detective pushed to the edge: With pressure mounting and multiple tragedies closing in, Serrailler must navigate his own demons while trying to solve a seemingly unsolvable case.

This isn't just a police procedural. It's a gripping exploration of human nature, a testament to the complexities of family, and a powerful look at how grief can tear lives apart.

About the Author

Dame Susan Hill is one of the UK's most accomplished and decorated living authors, a professional writer for over fifty years, and the author of the bestselling Simon Serrailler crime series. In 2020, she was awarded a damehood (DBE) for her services to literature.

Her novels and short stories have won numerous awards, including the Whitbread, the Somerset Maugham, and the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize. She was also shortlisted for the prestigious Booker Prize.

Hill is also the author of the internationally celebrated ghost story, The Woman in Black, which has been adapted into a long-running West End play and a major feature film.

In addition to her crime and gothic fiction, her extensive body of work also includes literary novels, children's books, and autobiographical works. She lives in North Norfolk with her family.