John Fletcher was new to the Bristol, England, police force when young Charlie Paige died his arms, and he's never forgotten it. Now a seasoned detective, Fletcher is shaken all over again when a body is found close to the site where Charlie and his friend Scott Ashby were assaulted and left for dead. As though the new killing wasn't enough, the dead boys' childhood friend starts a true-crime podcast that questions whether a mentally disabled man convicted of the murders was actually guilty. Fletcher's down-to-earth policing, combined with his strong sleuthing smarts, creates a compelling flashback-and-present-day mystery, but equally engaging is a secondary character, Charlie's mother, Jess. She wasn't there for her son, but her self-recrimination and eventual redemption over the course of the case make for compelling drama. Fans of British mysteries or of cold-case procedurals are the natural audience for this strongly written outing by the author of What She Knew (2016), but it may also appeal to devotees of the many true-crime podcasts out there today, including West Cork.--Henrietta Verma Copyright 2018 Booklist

Podcaster Cody Swift, the protagonist of this exceptional psychological thriller from Edgar-finalist Macmillan (What She Knew), was best friends with two boys-11-year-old Scott Ashby and 10-year-old Charlie Paige-who were beaten to death in Bristol, England, in 1996. In February 2017, Sidney Noyce, a mentally challenged adult who was convicted of the killings, commits suicide in prison. Two months later, Cody returns to Bristol to reexamine the murders in a series of podcasts that raise doubts about Sidney's guilt. The people he angers include Jess Paige, Charlie's mother, who turns to wealthy Felix Abernathy to control Cody's probing; Det. Supt. Howard Smail, whose career was ended by the case; and Det. Insp. John Fletcher, who built the case against Sidney. The podcasts draw increasing threats as Cody's interviews reveal more and more new details. Macmillan skillfully marries this information with revealing scenes from the original investigation. A brilliantly clever ending caps this riveting thriller. Macmillan remains a writer to watch. Agent: Nelle Andrew, Peters, Fraser and Dunlop (U.K.). (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.