The Scent of Death (Transworld Publ. Ltd UK)

'A superbly strong read' The Times What began as a straightforward case is about to become a twisted nightmare . . . Once a busy hospital, St Jude& #8217 s now stands derelict, awaiting demolition. When a partially mummified corpse is found in the building& #8217 s cavernous loft, forensics expert Dr David Hunter is called in to take a look. He can& #8217 t say how long the body& #8217 s been there, but he is certain it& #8217 s that of a young woman. And that she was pregnant. Then part of the attic floor collapses, revealing another of the hospital& #8217 s secrets: a bricked-up chamber with beds inside. And some of them are still occupied. And it soon becomes clear that St Jude& #8217 s hasn& #8217 t claimed its last victim . . . Chilling, visceral and masterfully paced, Simon Beckett& #8217 s new crime thriller will leave you gasping.