The Soul of Discretion

Publisher Marketing: In the eighth of the successful Simon Serrailler series, the Chief Superintendent is faced with worse crimes than ever, and the town of Lafferton is left reeling. Susan Hill the Man Booker Prize nominee and winner of the Whitbread, Somerset Maugham, and John Llewellyn Rhys awards returns with a gripping new novel, the latest chapter in one of the most acclaimed mystery series of our time. From the outside, the cathedral town of Lafferton seems idyllic, but in many ways it is just like any other place. It suffers from the same kinds of crime, is subject to the same pressures from a rapidly changing world, and has the same hopes and fears as any number of towns up and down the land. When Simon Serrailler is called in by Lafferton s new Chief Constable, Kieran Bright, he is met by two plainclothes officers, who ask him to take the principal role in a difficult, potentially dangerous undercover operation. He must leave town immediately, without telling anyone not even his girlfriend Rachel, who has only just moved in with him. Meanwhile, Simon's sister Cat is facing difficult choices at work, as Lafferton s hospice closes its bedded units and at home, as her daughter is presented with a glittering opportunity that they would have to struggle to afford. And all is not well with Simon and Cat's stepmother, Judith, either. To complete his special operation, Simon must inhabit the mind of the worst kind of criminal. This takes its toll on Simon and as the investigation unfolds also on the town and some of its most respected citizens. " Contributor Bio:  Hill, Susan Susan Hill has been a professional writer for over 50 years. Her books have won the Whitbread, and John Llewellyn Prizes, and the W. Somerset Maugham Award and been shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Her novels include Strange Meeting, Im the King of the Castle and A Kind Man, and she has also published autobiography and collections of short stories. Her ghost story, The Woman in Black, has been running in London's West End since 1988. Susan Hill is married with two adult daughters and lives in North Norfolk. Contributor Bio:  Pacey, Steven Steven Pacey s extensive work in the West End includes Alec in Dolly West s "Kitchen", Stanley in "The Birthday Party", Hamish in "Things We Do for Love", Bertie Wooster in "By Jeeves" (for which he earned an Olivier Award nomination) and being directed by Harold Pinter in his successful productions of "Celebration "and "The Room". Steven has appeared in numerous television roles, including Tarrant in "Blake s 7", and has made over three hundred radio broadcasts.