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A Forest Full of Bones
A Jordan & Kingsfield Thriller (Book 3)
On the eve of his long-awaited retirement, Detective Inspector Jack Pearce is dragged back into the shadows of his past when a grisly car crash in Weekly Wood reveals human remains, and the start of a deadly puzzle. As more burial sites are uncovered, all linked to the notorious serial killers Adolphus and Joshua Payne, Pearce is forced to confront decades of haunting, unsolved cases.
I should begin by saying that I know Stephen personally, so complete transparency is only fair. That said, I would never recommend a book simply because I know the author. I recommend A Forest Full of Bones because it’s an excellent crime thriller.
I’ve followed Stephen’s writing from the beginning, and I genuinely believe this is his finest novel to date. The plot is tightly woven, the characters are believable, and the story kept me guessing right until the end. Just when I thought I’d worked out where the investigation was heading, another twist changed everything.
One aspect that particularly resonated with me is the setting. I know the area in which the story unfolds, and Stephen captures its atmosphere perfectly. Reading it, I could vividly picture the forests, lanes, and surrounding countryside. That familiarity made the story feel even more real and added an extra layer of tension to an already gripping mystery.
What I admire most about Stephen’s writing is that he doesn’t rely on unnecessary sensationalism. Instead, he creates suspense through believable characters, careful plotting, and a growing sense of unease that keeps the pages turning.
If you’re looking for a crime novel that’s intelligent, atmospheric, and impossible to put down, A Forest Full of Bones is one I can wholeheartedly recommend. Knowing Stephen may have encouraged me to pick up the book, and knowing the area brought the setting to life for me, but it’s the quality of the writing that made me stay with it until the final page. I finished the book wanting more, and that’s about the highest compliment I can give any author.
Amazon - NS 
Without Fear or Favour and other stories
An oath stands but temptation constantly beckons
Discover ‘Without Fear or Favour,’ a short anthology of stories to kick off the new year.
Dive into the depths of human morality with my latest release. It is a thought-provoking collection exploring the complexities of breaking oaths and the consequences of living without fear or favour.
If you embark on revenge - dig two graves!
Blind Murder (2nd Ed)
2022 Edition
In 1994 probationary PC’s Jim Kingsfield and Jake Jordan attend their first murder where Bingham Tyler’s step-mother is found in a house on a Northampton estate. Some think Tyler did it.
Eighteen years later, Detective Inspector Jim Kingsfield, now married to forensic pathologist, Kirsty, is unaware that he and his wife are being targeted by Tyler, who’s lust for revenge will have explosive and life changing consequences for them all.
Meanwhile Jake Jordan, now a traffic sergeant, is thrown into this revenge fuelled mix, putting his job to the test, and discovering his marriage is on the rocks.
Tyler is a psychopath. Tyler wants Kingsfield dead for his actions all those years ago.
Will he get his revenge?
A fantastic read, simply couldn’t put it down! Everything about this book is spot on. I love the way the characters are developed right the way through the book, allowing you to connect with them and feel like this is not the first instalment. A juggernaut of twist at the end had me wanting the next book now!
C Howard - Amazon
MURDER. ABDUCTION. TWO CITIES. TWO COPS. ONE OBJECTIVE...
Crimson Dragon
Mandy Lee & Ed Roberts - Book 1
Eighteen months ago. Chinatown, London. A police raid goes disastrously wrong. People die. Today, those police officers involved in the swoop are dead. Serial, Purple One Five, are all dead, except the serial commander – Sergeant Brian Gibson.
In Hong Kong, a woman’s body is discovered in a seedy downtown Wan Chai hotel. Detective Inspector of Police MANDY LEE must determine who she is and who killed her. Lee identifies the woman as Andrea Ventress-Gibson. Her investigation leads her to the UK, but Andrea’s new husband, Sergeant Brian Gibson, is missing – whereabouts unknown.
Meanwhile, in the UK, Road Policing Officer PC ED ROBERTS discovers a cyber-attack on a police database committed by a Hong Kong underworld organisation – Crimson Dragon. Ordered to chaperone D. I. Lee, they soon find that their enquiries are linked.
Against orders, Roberts follows Lee to London’s Chinatown, where they come into direct conflict with CRIMSON DRAGON, Lee confirming her suspicions that her estranged step-brother is involved.
Can Lee and Roberts discover Gibson’s whereabouts and stop CRIMSON DRAGON?
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It has everything I like in a book – good writing and a well thought out plot line, likeable characters who just grow on you the more you read, plenty of twists and lots of action to keep you entertained. The author grabbed my attention from the first page and held it all the way to the last. The characters just jumped out from the pages and I could picture some of the scenes in my mind when reading, and found myself rooting for the main characters throughout. The book raced to a thrilling conclusion, with all loose ends tied up and the ending sets up the next book nicely. I’d definitely read another book with these characters and hope there is more to come from this author. If you like police procedurals, a story that is action packed and full of surprises then this is for you and I’d recommend it.
Net Galley - Annie
A gripping crime thriller for all fans of Stuart McBride, Peter James and Mark Billingham
Driving Dead
‘With horror, she felt all the muscles in her body cramp, as her body went into an uncontrollable spasm her right foot hit the accelerator pedal and lay there like a brick’
When a woman is killed and her family seriously injured in a road collision, Jake Jordan and his team of road policing officers are called in to investigate.
Discovering a water bottle laced with a substance which causes drivers to have seizures and die while driving, Jordan enlists the help of Kirsty Kingsfield and her long time microbiologist friend Dr Tanya Nicholls.
The police find themselves with an abduction of one of their own and a near fatal accident, following an aborted sting operation by new Detective Inspector, Fletcher Randall.
I’m not a regular reader of crime novels but this was recommended to me and I’m glad it was. Great plot twists and turns and a gripping story that keeps up the pace and interest. Recommended.
S. Wilshire - Amazon
Welcome to my website
Hello and welcome. I’m crime fiction writer for page and screen. This site provides information about my books. You will also be able to ask me questions about the craft of writing crime fiction and police procedure for budding crime fiction writers. Please sign up to ‘The Old Coppers Pocketbook’ below to get extra access to lots of other information.
Happy Reading.
Book Publication Update
The third and final book in the Jordan & Kingsfield series’ PUBLICATION DAY IS 29 Jun 2026.
In A Forest Full of Bones is a dark tale of multiple homicides carried out over decades and discovered as the result of a road collision.
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Recent blog posts
Crime Fiction and Police Procedurals.
Posted on 2nd July, 2026
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Crimson Dragon’s High-Octane Tale of Revenge and Resilience
Posted on 26th December, 2025
Crimson Dragon begins with the kind of explosive action scene many thrillers save for the climax. A high-stakes police raid in London’s Chinatown ends in …
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Policing in a broken future.
Posted on 22nd September, 2025
Policing in a Broken Future: What Without Fear or Favour Tells Us About Justice on the Brink When I open Without Fear or Favour and …
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