{"product_id":"a-killing-tree-detective-inspector-zig-batten-1-paperback","title":"A Killing Tree: Detective Inspector Zig Batten 1 - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003ePaul Toolan\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"One of the best British murder mysteries I've read in a long time.\"\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eEscape to the country? Or escape to murder?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNovember, cider-apple time, and Inspector Zig Batten regrets his enforced transfer from urban Yorkshire to not-so-sleepy Somerset. When hikers discover a dead body, propped against a tree on a lonely hill, Batten needs every grain of his Northern sarcasm to help him seek the killer. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIs it a coincidence the victim worked on the vast private estate of Wake Hall - home of a shifty horse-sales business run by a slap-happy Northern adversary? What exactly is in the horse-boxes that trundle into Wake Hall? And does the maverick Lady Wake know - or care? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBatten's delving is plagued by tensions within his new team, disappearing witnesses, self-doubt, poisoned guard dogs - and a shocking revelation. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThen, as Christmas draws near, the human cost of crime begins to escalate... \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrom the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e 'Killing Tree'\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e series is set in the real landscape of Somerset in the West Country of England - famous for its pretty villages, apple orchards and vintage cider-makers - all marred by murder - and at times in Greece or Spain. The books may be read standalone or in the following sequence: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eA January Killing \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ebegins with a 'Wassail' - an ancient winter ceremony using music and drumming to rid the orchards of evil spirits. Shotguns are then fired into the bare branches to spark a fresh crop of apples. But one particular shotgun has far more malicious intent...\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn Easter Killing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, the inhabitants of East Thorne wake on Good Friday morning to a heinous sight on Crown of Thorns Hill, which looms over the village...\u003cbr\u003eWhen, in \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Killing of Queen Mab, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e a convalescing Batten asks why vicious hands would slit the throat of the once-beautiful 'Queen Mab', his search for answers whisks him from Somerset to his native Yorkshire, to Cornwall and to the shores and mountains of Greece. And into danger...\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Secret Killing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e returns a reluctant Zig to Wake Hall, to old adversaries - and new secrets...\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Ring O'Bells Killing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, set in the quirky world of British Morris Dance, Zig's investigates in England and Greece, to fathom why dancers have suddenly become an endangered species...\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eA Cider-Country Killing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e, Zig and newly-promoted Inspector Ball discover that cider may be nectar, but crime is poison...\u003cbr\u003eAnd keep a lookout for book 8 in the series...\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePaul Toolan was born in northern England but now admits to being a southern softie living in rural Somerset. After a rewarding career as a teacher and senior manager in Further Education and Universities he wrote book\/lyrics for successful musicals, before turning to crime writing. 'A Killing Tree' is the first novel in the Detective Inspector Zig Batten series, and the second, 'A January Killing', is now available. Like his protagonist, he enjoys walking, gardens, fishing and the occasional whisky. Unlike him, he enjoys cricket, the taste of mushrooms, and loves to travel- to Greece and Crete in particular.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 364\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.75 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 29, 2015\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50365647651053,"sku":"9781508919278","price":18.23,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0020\/8918\/9441\/files\/R888Leqqcn9781508919278.webp?v=1785415962","url":"https:\/\/www.webster.direct\/products\/a-killing-tree-detective-inspector-zig-batten-1-paperback","provider":"Webster.Direct","version":"1.0","type":"link"}