When a self-styled Angel of Death begins granting the dying a final act of mercy on the streets of Newcastle, DCI Jack Parker is forced to confront both a ruthless killer and his own advancing dementia. The gripping third instalment in Trevor Wood’s addictive, gritty DCI Jack Parker series.

Killer or saint? Death is stalking the streets of Newcastle. An anonymous killer is offering the terminally ill a dignified escape. Mercy to some. Murder to others.

DCI Jack Parker doesn’t want the case. He has a secret of his own – an early-onset dementia diagnosis he’s desperate to conceal. But the signs are becoming impossible to ignore. As his mind begins to betray him, the city faces its own moral reckoning. While politicians debate a contentious new law and the self-styled Angel of Death selects another victim, Jack’s world is shaken when the killings are traced to a carers’ support group – one his wife, Helen, has been attending in secret.

Yet his deepest fear is also his darkest temptation. Because when his disease becomes unbearable, Jack can’t escape one haunting question: could the Angel of Death be the saviour he’s been waiting for?

Praise for the DCI Jack Parker series: ‘Weaves together an incredibly clever plot with a beautiful, soulful story. An absolutely magnificent book’ Victoria Dowd ‘Such a great story, so cleverly written. Taut, tender and full of very human twists. This is the start of something big’ William Shaw ‘One of the best hooks for a novel I've seen this year, and artfully executed by a writer at the top of his game. An absolute masterpiece of teasing tension that'll drag you by the scruff of the neck to the very last page’ Robert Rutherford ‘A juicy theme for a series of police procedurals . . . exquisite’ The Times ‘Crime fiction at its very best - the keep-you-guessing story is peopled with characters you can't help caring about. A superb start to this intriguing series’ Frances Quinn ‘A super-smart and highly original police thriller, written with huge heart’ Doug Johnstone ‘Told with Wood's signature directness, its serpentine twists keep the reader guessing. It heralds an exciting new series’ Daily Mail ‘Wood crafts characters that drip with humour and heart and you will not want to stop reading when you start’ Sun