Author: Parks, Alan

Historical mysteries

Published on 29 January 2026 by John Murray Press (Baskerville) in the United Kingdom as part of 'The Joseph Gunner Thrillers' series.

Paperback | 288 pages, N/A
197 x 129 x 22 | 206g

A brand new crime series from the award-winning author of the Harry McCoy books'A notably original protagonist . . . swept up in a high-level conspiracy reaching from Whitehall's corridors of power to Berlin and Rudolf Hess's doomed flight to Scotland . . . enthralling' Financial Times'Great storytelling . . . I loved it' Peter James, #1 bestselling author of the Roy Grace seriesMarch 1941. Joseph Gunner is back on the streets of Glasgow after being wounded on the front lines in France.

Keeping the pain in his leg at bay with the help of morphine, Gunner, a former detective, is hoping to lie low as the Luftwaffe begins bombing Glasgow.

But when he runs into his old boss Drummond, he is persuaded to help examine a body found in the wreckage. When it turns out to be that of a German, mutilated to disguise his identity, Gunner reluctantly agrees to investigate.

As he begins to hunt for the truth Gunner runs into old flames and bitter enemies, before finding himself embroiled in a high-level conspiracy that reaches far beyond his hometown of Glasgow.

Partly inspired by the true story of Rudolf Hess's secret mission to broker appeasement with Britain during the Second World War, Gunner is an atmospheric and addictive new thriller from one of Britain's best-loved writers.

'Great stuff . . . a vivid sense of place and time and what a main character!' Ian Rankin, #1 bestselling author of the Rebus series