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A Cornish legal crime thriller pairing a determined lawyer with an ex-policeman turned private investigator to reopen a fatal arson case in a close-knit coastal community. Atmospheric British crime fiction with courtroom intrigue, cold-case investigation and a powerful sense of place.
One fire. Three dead. A lifetime of questions.
Fifteen years after a devastating fire claimed the lives of his mother, stepfather and sister, Kit Retallick returns to his Cornish hometown and hires lawyer Eden Grey to help him clear his name.
Eden, initially sceptical, uncovers discrepancies in the evidence that warrant further investigation. With the assistance of ex-policeman turned investigator Ross Trenear, they begin to unravel a complex web of deceit and prejudice within the tight-lipped rural community.
As they delve deeper into the case, they find that two murders occured on the night of Kit's return, raising the stakes and threatening to derail their progress. Can Eden and Ross navigate a maze of resentment and denial to uncover the truth before it's too late?
In this legal thriller, author Julie Evans delivers a tale of justice and redemption that'll keep you turning pages. A Baptism of Fire, a standalone book in the Cornish Crime series, is a compelling journey through the darkest corners of the human psyche. For fans of Ann Cleeves and Elly Griffiths.
Praise for A Baptism of Fire:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I literally couldn’t put it down; read cover to cover in a day.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Very well-written, fast-paced, with plenty of twists and turns.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ I have enjoyed all of Julie Evans’ books, and this is the best so far. Brilliant.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Once again, Julie has crafted a story that you simply can’t stop reading.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Gripping book. Loved it.
After training as a lawyer, Julie Evans returned to her native Cornwall to establish her own law firm and to raise her three children. After years building a successful legal practice it was time for a new adventure and she decided to write the stories she had formulated in her head over the years about her community and the lives of those who find themselves on the wrong side of the law.
‘I have always been fascinated by the schizophrenic character of the windswept Cornish peninsula my family has been lucky enough to call home for generations. Occupied by a cast of reluctant bedfellows, city-slick escapees and us locals who carry the remnants of our myth-ridden history etched on our backs like tattoos, it teeters between the bucket and spade domesticity of modern-day tourism and a superstitious past, riddled with Pagan traditions.
The resultant clash of cultures and sensibilities causes friction, resentment and drama. My aim, through my writing, is to explore what happens when these divergent worlds collide to expose a darker reality at odds with the picture-perfect landscape. Whilst I was lucky to enjoy a fantastically satisfying career as a lawyer I cannot now imagine anything more joyous than being able to sit at my desk and write knowing others might read and connect with my words. Cornwall has captured the hearts and imaginations of countless wonderful writers through the decades; their vivid images now woven into its rich tapestry. If I can add one colourful stitch I will be happy.’