The Inside Man
Published on 12. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
448 pages
978-1-5294-3259-6 (ISBN)
Description
The second Newcastle-set police thriller with a twist. DCI Jack Parker fights to hide his Early Onset Dementia while he continues to do the job he loves - investigating crimes and bringing villains to justice.
Still haunted by the death of a colleague in a hit and run for which he blames himself, he pursues the case with a determination bordering on reckless, encouraging her replacement, DS Emma Steel, to get close to a local gangster who knows more than he's letting on, thus endangering her and causing dissent among his close-knit team.
While he's juggling these issues, he's called in to investigate the disappearance of of young woman, Maria, and her son who appear to have vanished off the face of the earth. His boss tells him to focus on her ex-husband, but though the evidence points in his direction, Jack has his doubts. The woman has form with toxic men and the husband is just the latest in a long line.
As Jack's plans to hide his condition become more challenging, he begins to wonder if Maria is really the innocent victim she's been portrayed as - until a body turns up. As he starts to discover the truth in both these investigations, Jack comes to understand that nothing in this world is as black and white as it seems.
Still haunted by the death of a colleague in a hit and run for which he blames himself, he pursues the case with a determination bordering on reckless, encouraging her replacement, DS Emma Steel, to get close to a local gangster who knows more than he's letting on, thus endangering her and causing dissent among his close-knit team.
While he's juggling these issues, he's called in to investigate the disappearance of of young woman, Maria, and her son who appear to have vanished off the face of the earth. His boss tells him to focus on her ex-husband, but though the evidence points in his direction, Jack has his doubts. The woman has form with toxic men and the husband is just the latest in a long line.
As Jack's plans to hide his condition become more challenging, he begins to wonder if Maria is really the innocent victim she's been portrayed as - until a body turns up. As he starts to discover the truth in both these investigations, Jack comes to understand that nothing in this world is as black and white as it seems.
Reviews / Votes
A masterpiece of crime fiction. Dark, thrilling and oozing with tension . . . DCI Jack Parker is the hero we're all rooting for * Michael Wood * DCI Jack Parker is fast becoming my favourite fictional detective . . . [his] steely assuredness, exploits and intuition will have you making all sorts of excuses to get back to reading this modern day masterpiece * Graham Bartlett * Another masterclass in character-driven suspense from Trevor Wood whose ailing DCI Jack Parker is one of the most convincing cops in modern crime fiction . . . A compelling and on-the-nose crimer that had me sneaking to bed early and going to sleep far too late * Tom Benjamin * DCI Jack Parker returns for a second book in this fantastic series with another gripping story - this thriller is filled with Wood's trademark dry humour combined with characters that feel very human and relatable, and I couldn't stop turning the pages * Nikki Smith * Pacy, punchy and poignant at times, and packed with a healthy dose of dark humour. More layers of moral dilemma than a three tier wedding cake. In Jack Parker, Trevor has created a standout series lead who'll stick with you long after the last page * Robert Rutherford * More twists and bends than a deep sea diver surfacing too fast * Tim Sullivan * Another brilliant instalment in the DCI Jack Parker series, The Inside Man is a tense thriller filled with fresh and original characters. Modern dilemmas painted in shades of grey build to a gripping finale as Parker's team face impossible choices. A complex thriller packed with tension and humanity * Heather Critchlow * A twisty police thriller brought to life by down-to-earth Northern humour and heart. Trevor Wood's real skill is being able to approach painful, heart-breaking subjects - sadly all to common - with unflinching compassion and humanity. * Callum McSorley *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 194 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
319 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5294-3259-6 (9781529432596)
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
Person
Trevor Wood has lived in Newcastle for thirty years and considers himself an adopted Geordie. He's a successful playwright who has also worked as a journalist and spin-doctor for the City Council. Prior to that he served in the Royal Navy for sixteen years. Trevor holds an MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) from UEA. The Man on the Street, his first novel, was published to widespread critical acclaim and won the 2020 CWA New Blood Dagger. This was followed by One Way Street and Dead End Street. The trilogy was followed by an acclaimed standalone thriller, You Can Run, which was longlisted for Theakston's, and The Silent Killer, first book in the DCI Jack Parker series.