When the body of a young woman is found in an old ‘dead house’ – the annexe where the dead were stored before burial in medieval times – of a tiny Welsh church, it seems that past and present have come together in a bizarre and horrifying way. For DC Fiona Griffiths, the girl – a murder victim whose corpse was laid out with obvious tenderness – represents an irresistibly intriguing puzzle, given Fiona’s unusual empathy with the dead. And when her investigations lead her to an obscure and secretive monastery hidden in a remote valley, she finds that the dead girl is far from the only victim of a sinister melding of modern crime and medieval religious practices. Only Fiona is capable of putting the mismatched pieces together in this disturbing puzzle, but immersing herself in this dark and obsessive world could threaten her fragile grip on her own sanity.
Read by Siriol Jenkins
(p) 2016 Orion Publishing Group
Read by Siriol Jenkins
(p) 2016 Orion Publishing Group
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Reviews
'A terrific, intriguing heroine.'
'Five novels in, Bingham has his protagonist's voice down pat... A series that, you'd guess is in its pomp. Its lead is established, even familiar, yet maintains enough secrets to keep you reading. Impressive.'
Compelling...a new crime talent to treasure
Griffiths gets more interesting with each book
The unwinding of a clever plot is interesting and the depiction of unfamiliar men masterly
'Hallelujah, a new case for DS Fiona Griffiths, and it's as wildly wacky and entertaining as I hoped.'
Brilliant. Only one issue stands out after this novel: why aren't Harry Bingham's books number one on every chart? This is the fifth Griffiths novel... I, for one, will be going out and getting the others. Immediately. So should you
'I am an out and out fan of Fiona's. She will go down in literary crime history as a strong contender for the most memorable character ever. Bravo, Harry! Keep going!'
'Bingham's cop is an original and complex character; a different kind of policewoman... The Dead House is book five in the series, though the first I have read, meaning I am tracking the previous four urgently, to find out more about Fiona Griffiths, a truly fascinating character.
'I have been sufficiently intrigued by Fiona to go back to the first book in the series... This has caused me to abandon the novel I had started and[sic] lots of things I should be reading.'
'I could go, probably even without giving away the plot... but you really should discover Fiona for yourself'
In a word - brilliant. One of the most enjoyable crime novels I've read in a while
One of the most interesting and complicated protagonists in current UK crime fiction. Truly unforgettable
Compelling and claustrophobic. Without a doubt, Fiona Griffiths is one of crime's most memorable heroines
Fiona Griffiths is one of the most unusual and engaging characters in British crime fiction. Those who haven't yet encountered Fiona will be drawn into a beautifully crafted world
Intriguing and compelling - I love Fiona Griffiths
Praise for gripping, atmospheric crime thriller THE DEAD HOUSE: Chilling, atmospheric and so gripping it hurts. The Dead House is a masterpiece. You won't read a better crime novel this year
Gripping ... Fiona Griffiths kept me hooked to the last page and left me hungry for more
Fiona Griffiths is a wonderful character, an absolute breath of fresh air. The Dead House had me intrigued from the start and I can't wait for more from my new favourite heroine