Richard Riddell

D.C.I. Vera Stanhope investigates the brutal murder of young physiotherapist, Lizzie Faulkner, gunned down at a luxury country retreat. For D.S Joe Ashworth, the case brings him face to face with a part of his past he’d rather forget.

When Arthur kills a unicorn, the most prized and mystical of creatures, Merlin's heart is filled with foreboding. The young sorcerer's concerns are soon validated when a curse descends on Camelot. With the fabled city fast running out of both food and water, Arthur is desperate to help his people. But to do so he must listen to the mysterious Anhora and he doesn't like what he hears. Will Arthur take Anhora seriously before it's too late? And if so, is he brave enough to face the challenges that are thrown at him?

Returning to Syndicate Nine after a year away on vice, Rachel needs a bit of time to navigate her position as acting DI and rekindle her neglected relationship with Janet. However, the shocking murder of Michael Edgerton forces her to hit the ground running and adjust to the inevitable changes as she goes. Glad of Rachel's return, Janet could not have known how much she was going to need her friend. However, it soon becomes clear that Syndicate Nine are dealing with something much bigger and more sinister than a single, indiscriminate murder.

As the team makes a significant breakthrough in the case, Rachel hopes that the killers will become sloppy without the meticulous preparation that characterised the early murders. When Janet's attempt to help her daughter Taisie results in a complaint, Rachel has no choice but to caution her friend, but Janet is starting to question the value of doing everything by the book. With Rachel's position as acting DI in jeopardy, both Scott and Bailey have important decisions to make about their futures.

When the body of teenager Will Hudson is found in a park, Rachel knows that his death could have been prevented. With information about the Taking Out The Trash website in the public domain, monitoring potential targets has been severely compromised. When Rachel receives an email containing video footage of Hudson's murder, it becomes clear that the rules of the game have changed and her own safety is in question. As a police officer, Janet is powerless to protect her daughter Taisie but she knows that she needs to stop the madness.