Detective Sophie Allen's daughter discovers the body of a reclusive tramp in remote woodland in Dorset. He's been dead for a week. Sophie and her team try to piece together something about his life, but progress is slow. Then a hidden package is discovered near his rudimentary shelter. The police also find out that someone has been in the area asking about the tramp recently. A picture begins to emerge. He was an important member of a commune that had a three-year existence on a farm on the Quantock Hills in Somerset more than decade earlier. If you like you will be gripped by this exciting new crime fiction writer. "Very well written and " Viv "An book from Michael Hambling." Ron "The characters were a diverse, mixed bag of " Nicki "This book is a " Barbara "This was a good book, as a character." Hannelore SILENT CRIMES is book eight of a new series of crime thrillers featuring Sophie Allen, head of the Violent Crime Unit in Dorset. DCI Sophie Allen is Dorset's acknowledged expert on murder and violent crime. She is 42 as the series starts, and lives with her husband and younger daughter in Wareham. Her elder daughter is studying in London. Sophie has a law degree and a master's in criminal psychology. Her brilliant mind conceals some dark secrets from her past. DS Barry Marsh is based at Swanage police station. He's quiet, methodical and dedicated, the perfect foil for Sophie's hidden fragility. Dorset. A beautiful English county which includes a stunning section of the coastline, but whose beauty belies darkness beneath the surface. THE DCI SOPHIE ALLEN BOOKS Book 1: DARK CRIMES Book 2: DEADLY CRIMES Book 3: SECRET CRIMES Book 4: BURIED CRIMES Book 5: TWISTED CRIMES Book 6: EVIL CRIMES Book 7: SHADOW CRIMES Book 8: SILENT CRIMES Join the Joffe Books mailing list to hear about the next book in the series.