The MISPER Mystery — J.J. Salkeld

Sergeant Kathy Stone has a troubling MISPER (missing person) case to deal with, so the last thing she needs is someone digging holes in a field next to Owen Irvine's farm. Who is making the mysterious holes, and what are they looking for? Meanwhile DS Ian Mann has made a snap decision to make an arrest while off duty, and it's one that he might soon come to bitterly regret.

In the eighth novella in J J Salkeld's best-selling detective series, featuring Lake District shepherd-detective Owen Irvine, other members of the cast take centre stage, even as DI Andy Hall is having to face up to the inevitable consequences of further budget cuts. Can he really rely on a group of paedophile hunters, working with police approval, to bring a guilty man to justice?

Featuring hard-hitting contemporary issues, but handled in a non-violent way, Salkeld's books continue to be thought-provoking, amusing, and intriguing. Readers come for the crime, but they stay for the lovely Lake District settings and the refreshingly diverse cast of characters.