
Killing in the Shadows
The brand new book in the DI Joe Plantagenet crime series
Kate Ellis(Author)
Constable (Publisher)
Published on 29. January 2026
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-0-349-44299-0 (ISBN)
Description
Detective Inspector Joe Plantagenet returns in the new book in Kate Ellis's gripping crime series set in Yorkshire.
The quaint Yorkshire village of Eaglethorpe was a sanctuary for famous TV personality, Lexi Verity, away from prying eyes and camera flashes. But a life led in the spotlight can create envy in its shadows.
When Lexi is found dead in her swimming pool, DI Joe Plantagenet and DCI Emily Thwaite are called to investigate. The murder of the celebrity is front-page news and the pressure is on the Eborby CID to find the killer.
As Joe and Emily unravel the last moments of Lexi's life, they discover various motives for murder - as well as events in Lexi's distant past that would horrify the public if the facts were ever revealed.
Sinister secrets are also haunting the residents of the ancient cathedral city of Eborby nearby and Joe must decide which lead to follow, before a killer strikes again.
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'The plot is clever and chilling and will keep you wondering until the end. A great read in one sitting' Belfast Telegraph
'The charms of North Yorkshire - whether that's the historic city or the rolling countryside - provide a stunning backdrop to this complex, thrilling mystery which includes excellent police procedural, immaculate research, stand-out characters, and the sort of good old-fashioned investigative work that marks out Ellis's crime novels' Lancashire Evening Post
The quaint Yorkshire village of Eaglethorpe was a sanctuary for famous TV personality, Lexi Verity, away from prying eyes and camera flashes. But a life led in the spotlight can create envy in its shadows.
When Lexi is found dead in her swimming pool, DI Joe Plantagenet and DCI Emily Thwaite are called to investigate. The murder of the celebrity is front-page news and the pressure is on the Eborby CID to find the killer.
As Joe and Emily unravel the last moments of Lexi's life, they discover various motives for murder - as well as events in Lexi's distant past that would horrify the public if the facts were ever revealed.
Sinister secrets are also haunting the residents of the ancient cathedral city of Eborby nearby and Joe must decide which lead to follow, before a killer strikes again.
---------------------------
'The plot is clever and chilling and will keep you wondering until the end. A great read in one sitting' Belfast Telegraph
'The charms of North Yorkshire - whether that's the historic city or the rolling countryside - provide a stunning backdrop to this complex, thrilling mystery which includes excellent police procedural, immaculate research, stand-out characters, and the sort of good old-fashioned investigative work that marks out Ellis's crime novels' Lancashire Evening Post
Reviews / Votes
The plot is clever and chilling and will keep you wondering until the end. A great read in one sitting * Belfast Telegraph * The charms of North Yorkshire - whether that's the historic city or the rolling countryside - provide a stunning backdrop to this complex, thrilling mystery which includes excellent police procedural, immaculate research, stand-out characters, and the sort of good old-fashioned investigative work that marks out Ellis's crime novels * Lancashire Evening Post * Prasie for Kate Ellis: A beguiling author who interweaves past and present * The Times * I loved this novel . . . Clever plotting hides a powerful story of loss, malice and deception -- Ann Cleeves Haunting * Independent * The chilling plot will keep you spooked and thrilled to the end * Closer *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Little, Brown Book Group
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 225 mm
Width: 145 mm
Thickness: 34 mm
Weight
472 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-349-44299-0 (9780349442990)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
01/2026
Constable
€10.99
Available for download
Person
Kate Ellis was born and brought up in Liverpool and studied drama in Manchester. She is the award-winning author of the DI Wesley Peterson detective novels, as well as the Albert Lincoln trilogy and the Joe Plantagenet mysteries.
Kate has won the CWA Dagger in the Library Award for her crime writing. She has also twice been shortlisted for the CWA Short Story Dagger and been longlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
Visit her online at: www.kateellis.co.uk
Kate has won the CWA Dagger in the Library Award for her crime writing. She has also twice been shortlisted for the CWA Short Story Dagger and been longlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
Visit her online at: www.kateellis.co.uk