Deep Down Dead

Lori Anderson is as tough as they come, managing to keep her career as a fearless Florida bounty hunter separate from her role as single mother to nine-year-old Dakota, who suffers from leukaemia. But when the hospital bills start to rack up, she has no choice but to take her daughter along on a job that will make her a fast buck. And that's when things start to go wrong. The fugitive she's assigned to haul back to court is none other than JT, Lori's former mentor – the man who taught her everything she knows … the man who also knows the secrets of her murky past. Not only is JT fighting a child exploitation racket operating out of one of Florida's biggest amusement parks, Winter Wonderland, a place where 'bad things never happen', but he's also mixed up with the powerful Miami Mob. With two fearsome foes on their tails, just three days to get JT back to Florida, and her daughter to protect, Lori has her work cut out for her. When they're ambushed at a gas station, the stakes go from high to stratospheric, and things become personal. Breathtakingly fast-paced, both hard-boiled and heart-breaking, Deep Down Dead is a simply stunning debut from one of the most exciting new voices in crime fiction. 'This is romping entertainment that moves faster than a bullet' Jake Kerridge, Sunday Express 'If you like your action to race away at full tilt, then this whirlwind of a thriller is a must' Deirdre O'Brien, Sunday People 'With convincing, gritty local detail, unflinching violence, and a subplot of red-hot romance, all narrated by a likeable, fast-talking heroine, this punchy and powerful adventure will leave you wanting more' Mirror 'Stripper-turned-bounty hunter Lori, with her sickly young daughter in tow, gets into high-octane escapes when she sets out to bring her former lover and mentor to justice. Lively' Times Crime Club 'The ride Deep Down Dead delivers is fast-paced, zipping around the South Eastern US with chases, fights, ambushes and desperate escapes … there's a sensitivity in the telling of Lori's struggle to save her daughter that gives Deep Down Dead a bit more depth than other action thrillers' Crime Fiction Lover 'Gripping, entertaining and utterly addictive, this is a cracking start to an enthralling new crime series' Lancashire Evening Post 'A real cracker … Steph Broadribb kicks ass, as does her protagonist' Mark Billingham 'Fast, confident and suspenseful' Lee Child 'Like Midnight Run, but much darker' Ian Rankin 'Brilliant and pacey' Steve Cavanagh 'Crazy good … full-tilt action and a brilliant cast of characters' Yrsa Sigurðardóttir 'One of my favourite debut novels for a long, long time' Luca Veste 'Deft and assured' Chris Whitaker 'Delivers thrills at breakneck pace' Marnie Riches 'A relentless page-turner' J. S. Law 'Perfect for fans of Lee Child and Janet Evanovich' Alex Caan 'A promising debut delivered with energy and colour' Barry Forshaw 'Great action scenes and great atmosphere' C.J Carver 'A gritty debut that will appeal to Sue Grafton fans' Claire Seeber 'Deep Down Dead grabs you like a whirlwind – once you're in, there's no getting away till it's through with you. Pacey, emotive and captivating, this is kick-ass thriller writing of the highest order' Rod Reynolds