Sudden Death

On a misty morning in the Lake District, two men depart by helicopter from a private estate. Below, they see the stunning views of Wast Water, with Scafell Pike ahead, where fell runners are competing atop England’s highest mountain. It’s at this moment that the pilots lose control, and crash into the mountain top. Runners and bystanders are caught in the devastation.

This is the scene that greets DI Kelly Porter. She attempts to coordinate the rescue efforts, though it’s clear many won’t make it, including occupants of the helicopter. Three are dead, and the fourth is badly injured. When it emerges that the survivor is none other than the Right Honourable Lord Donald Reilly, and the person who charted the flight was notorious billionaire Bartholomew Kennedy-Craig, the media frenzy is intense. Reilly is high up in government and his contact with the magnate provokes speculation. When it is learned that the helicopter had been tampered with, Kelly and her team can’t afford to make a single mistake. Who was the intended victim, and why? With the scrutiny of the government, the public and the press on her, just how confident can she be that the trail of evidence is leading her to the right conclusion?