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A Spring Betrayal

An Inspector Akyl Borubaev Thriller (Book 2)

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What to expect

We uncovered the last of the bodies in the red hour before dusk, as the sun stained the snowcaps of the Tian Shan mountains the colour of dried blood and the spring air turned sharp and cold . . .

Inspector Akyl Borubaev of Bishkek Murder Squad has been exiled to the far corner of Kyrgystan, but death still haunts him at every turn.

Borubaev soon finds himself caught up in a mysterious and gruesome new case: several children's bodies have been found buried together - all tagged with name bands. In his search for the truth behind the brutal killings, Borubaev hits a wall of silence, with no one to turn to outside his sometime lover, the beautiful undercover agent Saltanat Umarova.

When Borubaev himself is framed for his involvement in the production of blood-soaked child pornography,it looks as though things couldn't get any worse. With the investigation at a dangerous standstill, Borubaev sets out to save his own integrity, and to deliver his own savage justice on behalf of the many dead who can't speak for themselves . . .
(P)2016 WF Howes Ltd

Critics Review

Even better than Child 44. Akyl Borubaev is a terrific creation
Anthony Horowitz
Just keeps getting better . . . buy the whole series right away
Peter Robinson, author of the bestselling DCI Banks series
Storytelling of the highest quality . . . Introduces a detective it is impossible not to believe in. Callaghan is a new voice to be welcomed
Daily Mail
Not since Child 44 have I read something that's left such a memorable impression
Sebastian Fitzek on A Killing Winter
This is a thrilling, intense debut from a powerfully descriptive writer
The Daily Express
[Tom Callaghan's] gloomy atmospheric portrait convinces and he writes with style and panache . . . A lively story and a riveting glimpse of an unknown society
The Times
A Killing Winter is a brilliant debut, and an early contender for one of my top reads of the year
Raven Crime Reads
Unforgettable
The Sunday Times
His [Tom Callaghan's] descriptions are wonderful - sickeningly so in fact
The Bookbag
It's brutal but not cynical; you feel it. It's a hugely impressive debut; atmospheric and stirring
Killing Time Crime
Callaghan is a hell of a writer, with a tremendous sense of pace and an arch ear for juicy dialogue, and the pages fly by.
Crime Thriller Fella
This is a wonderful book . . . the narrative is savage yet at the same time beautifully crafted . . . A Killing Winter satisfies on so many levels
Milo Rambles
Ticks all the boxes of plot, setting and character.
The Crime Warp
The story and writing sustained me right through to the killer twist ending
Book Bonding
Fast-paced and enthralling
Written by Sime
The denouement is suitably surprising and satisfactory. I got there breathless and tense
Thriller books journal
Tom Callaghan is a name to watch
Promoting Crime Fiction
Author Tom Callaghan
Narrator Saul Reichlin
Series An Inspector Akyl Borubaev Thriller
Duration 9 hours and 46 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781784299217
Format Audiobook
Publisher Quercus
Genre Crime and mystery fiction, Espionage and spy thriller, Modern and contemporary fiction, Political / legal thriller, Thriller / suspense fiction
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

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