The Trail

By James Ellson

Longlisted for the Boardman Tasker award.

'Intelligent and pacy thriller . . . A taut, keenly observed tale of revenge, perseverance and the struggle against injustice'--Paula Hawkins

'Stunning . . . An exciting new addition to the world of crime fiction'--Stephen Booth

The first book in the critically acclaimed DCI Castle series

Manchester. DCI Rick Castle is inspecting his bees when his boss phones. A minor cannabis dealer has been reported missing. His father's a war hero.

Rick flies to Nepal, and heads up the trail. Through villages of staring children and fluttering prayer-flags. Brilliant blue skies, and snow-capped mountains.

He finds a dead body.

Then a second.

Nothing in this world was ever straightforward. Nothing.

Finally, he puts himself in the firing line, and has a decision to make. Is it the right one? The moral one?

Three missing. Two continents. One detective.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1036711412
• ISBN13: 9781036711412
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Vinci Books Ltd
• Length: 300 Pages