Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, became a Home Office Pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. During his 40-year career with the Home Office, he performed over 25,000 autopsies, and was involved in many high profile cases, including that of Fred and Rose West, and the child killer, Mary Bell. The author of numerous popular and academic non-fiction books, he has written thirteen novels in the Crowner John mystery series. Professor Knight lives in Cardiff.

'This highly enjoyable series has reached that happy stage where it is as entertaining to read about what the various characters are up to as it is to read of a fresh serial killer on the rampage. The murders in this book take a back seat much of the time, and instead the reader is treated to the latest chapter of goings-on in John's inharmonious menage, at the Bush, in Dawlish, Stoke and more. It is also a vivid picture of an age when the church ruled and often clashed with the state, and when being merely suspected of heresy was to be in a very dangerous position indeed, whoever you were. Towards the end of the tale the pace quickens and it all gets very exciting -- and unexpected -- indeed, reinforcing my enthusiasm for this long running but evergreen series. There really is a lot to enjoy in here for many reasons.' www.myshelf.com

Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, became a Home Office Pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. During his 40-year career with the Home Office, he performed over 25,000 autopsies, and was involved in many high profile cases, including that of Fred and Rose West, and the child killer, Mary Bell. The author of numerous popular and academic non-fiction books, he has written thirteen novels in the Crowner John mystery series. Professor Knight lives in Cardiff.

'This highly enjoyable series has reached that happy stage where it is as entertaining to read about what the various characters are up to as it is to read of a fresh serial killer on the rampage. The murders in this book take a back seat much of the time, and instead the reader is treated to the latest chapter of goings-on in John's inharmonious menage, at the Bush, in Dawlish, Stoke and more. It is also a vivid picture of an age when the church ruled and often clashed with the state, and when being merely suspected of heresy was to be in a very dangerous position indeed, whoever you were. Towards the end of the tale the pace quickens and it all gets very exciting -- and unexpected -- indeed, reinforcing my enthusiasm for this long running but evergreen series. There really is a lot to enjoy in here for many reasons.' www.myshelf.com