J.R. SINCLAIR
Books by J.R. Sinclair
THE DI JOSEPH STONE SERIES
Gritty Oxford mysteries where justice burns and secrets linger.
The Dead of Midwinter
(Book 1)
How long does it take to make a murderer?
For sixteen years, the Midwinter Butcher has been lurking in the shadows, committing ritualistic animal killings on the anniversary of DI Joseph Stone's son's tragic death. And ever since, Joseph has been desperate to bring them to justice.
Now living alone on a narrowboat in the heart of Oxford, the Irish detective has tried to put his shattered life back together. But with his superiors’ unwillingness to allocate the necessary resources, his quest for justice has been fruitless.
That is until he is teamed with the determined and driven DC Megan Taylor. Together, they begin to unravel the web of clues that leads them closer and closer to the truth. Soon it becomes clear that these animal murders were just a prelude to something much more sinister.
The clock is ticking, and with Joseph's daughter's life on the line, he and Megan must risk everything to catch the Midwinter Butcher before it's too late. Can they bring the killer to justice, and Joseph finally find closure, or will his daughter become the next victim in this twisted game of life and death?
The Dead of Midwinter is J.R. Sinclair's electrifying debut crime thriller. Sinclair's writing is a fresh and exciting new voice in the British crime fiction genre, sure to captivate fans of JD Kirk, TG Reid, Alex Smith, and J.E Mayhew. This is a must-read for any crime enthusiast and will keep you guessing until the very end.
"Twisty, tangled, and totally addictive. I'm hooked!" T.G. Reid
"Sinister, exciting, J.R. Sinclair has it all!" J.E. Mayhew
A Flood of Sorrow
(Book 2)
The River is About to Reveal its Terrible Secret...
Oxford rower Hannah Emmerson vanished four years ago while jogging along the River Isis. Her mysterious disappearance became a source of heartbreak and torment for her loved ones and the academic community when the search for Hannah yielded no results.
That is, until now.
In the wake of a catastrophic storm that has flooded the city, Hannah's body is discovered during a one in a thousand narrowboat accident. As the investigation into her death intensifies, the stakes become even higher when other another woman in the Oxford rowing team is targeted. DI Joseph Stone and DC Megan Anderson, are tasked with unraveling the secrets of the River Isis murderer before the murderer can strike again.
But when a new victim is abducted while under police protection, the situation becomes even more urgent. The pressure is on Joseph and Megan to uncover the common thread that links all of the cases together, and it seems that the river itself may hold the key. Can they unravel the truth and find the connection before it's too late? The clock is ticking, and the fate of a missing woman’s life hangs in the balance.
Embers of Summer
(Book 3)
How far will a twisted mind go in the name of vengeance?
Jimmy Harper, a successful vintage car salesroom owner, is discovered burned alive inside his cherished Aston Martin DB5. When a double-headed coin is found in his mouth, it’s apparent that there’s something more sinister going on.
Why was Jimmy targeted and murdered in such a brutal manner?
As they delve into the investigation, Joseph and Megan uncover a disturbing pattern of failed businesses reduced to ashes. As their professional lives become entwined with the case, loyalties blur and hidden dangers lurk around every corner, leaving no room for error.
Drawn into the disturbed psyche of an elusive arsonist driven by an insatiable thirst for fire and vengeance, the detectives must tiptoe on a razor’s edge. Each revelation brings them closer to a bone-chilling truth, and a far greater threat lurking in the shadows.
Can they identify the twisted mind behind the murders before the killer strikes again?
The Games People Play
(Book 4)
What happens when what’s meant to be a game turns deadly?
Detective Inspector Joseph Stone is plunged into a world where a harmless Nerf gun ‘hit’ spirals into a deadly pursuit. Ryan and Gabby, members of an Assassins gaming club, unwittingly become entangled with someone taking their obsession to a murderous level. Joseph's and DC Megan Anderson’s investigation uncovers a sinister game that blurs the line between reality and fiction.
Simultaneously, Joseph grapples with the hidden secrets of his superior, Derrick, and the mysterious Night Watchmen. His pursuit of the truth not only jeopardises his career but also endangers Kate, his ex-wife.
In this gripping thriller, Joseph confronts corruption and betrayal within his own ranks, while battling a formidable enemy intent on safeguarding their deadly game. He must fight to bring justice to the victims and confront a looming darkness that threatens all he holds dear.
A Harvest of Souls
(Book 5)
How long does it take to unearth a deadly secret?
For decades, the peaceful village of Fernbridge has harboured dark mysteries, whispers of ancient rituals, and hidden crimes. When human remains from 1966 are discovered at an archaeological dig, Detective Inspector Joseph Stone and DC Megan Taylor are thrust into a haunting investigation that threatens to unravel the very fabric of the community.
Charlotte Harris, a reclusive farmer rumoured to be a witch, soon falls into their sights. Her eerie practices and the village’s deep-seated superstitions fuel a growing hysteria that the detectives must navigate carefully.
The detectives begin to unravel a web of clues leading them closer to the truth. As they delve deeper, they uncover a pattern of deception and fear, linking past horrors to present-day crimes. With the Night Watchmen, a shadowy criminal organisation, also threatening Joseph’s family and infiltrating the police force, the stakes couldn't be higher.
The clock is ticking. With the village's escalating fear, Joseph and Megan must risk everything to catch the real culprits before more lives are claimed. Can they bring justice to Fernbridge and finally uncover the truth, or will the darkness lurking beneath the village consume them all?
Shadows of the Mind (Book 6)
A race against time. A battle for redemption. And a mind game where trusting the wrong person could be fatal.
When DCI Simon Hart steps in front of a van after killing a fellow officer, no one can explain why. But as more bodies surface—each death echoing the last—DI Joseph Stone realises he’s walking a twisted path back to a case he thought was buried.
A flawed conviction. A man who took his own life. And a doubt that never truly died.
Pulled into a world of dark memories and buried truths, Joseph and DC Megan Anderson follow a trail of victims—each tied to that original case. But when they finally uncover a suspect, the real game begins: a web of manipulation and revenge with terrifying consequences.
As Joseph’s grip on reality slips and a ghost from his past re-emerges, he finds himself on the edge—his team splintering, his instincts compromised. Now, he must make an impossible choice: descend into the darkness to stop a killer… or lose himself in the shadows he’s fought so long to escape.
About J. R. Sinclair
J.R. Sinclair writes dark, Oxford-set crime fiction where justice burns and secrets linger. He walks the same lanes as his detective, DI Joseph Stone—always listening for the next story.
