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  • Published: 5 June 2014
  • ISBN: 9781405913829
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 480

If I Should Die




A hugely accomplished debut introducing series character, police detective Joseph Stark. This is British crime-writing of the highest order.

A homeless man walks into Greenwich police station and confesses to murder, an admission that should have cracked open a murder enquiry. Instead, he stumbles out on to the street and collapses, bleeding from a stab wound.

The newest member of the Met's murder investigation team, twenty-five year-old Afghan veteran Joseph Stark, doesn't believe the man's story. Yet it becomes clear that Stark and the down-and-out share a connection that could unlock the case.

The young detective and his colleagues are drawn deeper into a dark, disturbing world, where there's enough at stake for a man to risk everything.

  • Published: 5 June 2014
  • ISBN: 9781405913829
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 480

Also by Matthew Frank

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Praise for If I Should Die

**WINNER of the 2014-2015 Waverton Good Read Award** If I Should Die is the astounding debut from British author Matthew Frank. ---------- When a homeless man walks into Greenwich police station and confesses a killing, it should be the admission that cracks open a murder enquiry. Instead, he stumbles out on to the street and collapses, bleeding from a stab wound he's attempted to repair himself . . .

From the publisher's description

A great debut introducing an unusual lead character

Novel Heights

A great debut introducing an unusual lead character - I'm looking forward to reading more in the series - 5*s

Novel Heights

A gripping murder story ... Frank brilliantly maintains a balance between the demands of a complex plot and his character's difficulty in returning to civilian life ... an accomplished first novel

Sunday Times

A highly assured debut ... we'll look forward to the next

Crime Fiction Lover

A powerful debut ... intensity, outstanding characterisation, passion, perfect dialogue and pinpoint plotting

Crime Review

A very powerful novel. The writing is so good that it is difficult to believe that this is a debut

New Books Magazine

An astonishingly assured debut novel

We Love This Book

Brilliantly written

Oodals Blog

Detective Sergeant Fran Millhaven is just one of the best women copper characters you'll ever meet between the covers of a book . . . but Stark is the heart of this narrative. I am so looking forward to meeting him again . . . the moment Stark crosses over from soldier to CID detective is beautiful to behold. The action scenes, too, are terrific. Riveting

Dana Stabenow, author of, A Cold Day for Murder

Quite simply the best start to a new crime series - and the best debut - I've read in years. Joe Stark is such a terrific hero, full of flaws and compassion and the sort of quiet heroism that you rarely see these days, even in fiction. One of those books I want to bulk buy and press into the hands of everyone I know. The writing is top-notch, the action sequences are superlative, the characters crackle off the page and the dialogue whips and zings like bullets in the dust. Read it!

Sarah Hilary, author of Under the Skin and No Other Darkness

Skilfully plotted, with a great clarity of style. I really enjoyed it

Alison Joseph

Very strong. Very well written

Crime Squad

Well recommended

Eurocrime

Well researched and totally convincing, this is the first of several Stark books. Great news if they're as good as this

Sunday Mirror