Dead or Alive, The Sep Black Thrillers

A former Yorkshire Det. Inspector must clear his name, expose a traitor, and catch a kidnapper in this debut that “hits every note for a gritty procedural” (Publishers Weekly).

Two children have been abducted on their way home from school. After several weeks, they are still missing—and no one knows if they are alive or dead. The police are certain that Vince Formosa, a ruthless local gangster, is behind the kidnapping. But without proof their hands are tied.

After a disgraced politician dies in his custody, Detective Inspector Septimus “Sep” Black is forced to resign. He knows he’s been set up, but how does he prove it and stay alive in the process? Convinced that Formosa has a mole inside the department, Black sets out to expose the conspiracy and get his revenge on the man who brought him down. But to do it, he must find the missing girls—and that means going undercover among some of the most notorious criminals in Leeds.

“McCoy tells his tale with great dash—plus plenty of tension and violence—and he brightens it with doses of English-major wit.” —Booklist

“The well-constructed narrative unfolds in an entertaining manner. A solid choice for Peter Robinson and Reginald Hill fans.” —Library Journal