Sticks and stones were meant to break bones — now someone is using them for something far worse.
A mutilated and delirious man emerges from a Surrey woodland in the middle of the night and collapses inside Haslemere Hospital. When surgeons get him on the operating table, what they discover leaves DI Stephanie Broadbent speechless.
Still reeling from the loss of their colleague, Stephanie must pull her fractured team together and lead them into a case threaded with strange sightings and whispers of folklore that refuse to stay buried.
Because whatever happened in those trees feels like the first step in a much darker path.
And something in the hills is stirring.
A Gritty Descent into Surrey Noir - Sticks and Stones is the explosive fifth instalment in the DI Stephanie Broadbent series. It weaves authentic police procedure with deep psychological trauma, set against the picturesque scenery of The Surrey Hills.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Gritty UK Police Procedurals: Fans of Angela Marsons, JD Kirk, and MW Craven will enjoy the authentic British procedural detail and high stakes.
Psychological Depth: Similar to Mo Hayder or Tana French, exploring the long-term impact of childhood trauma on investigators.
Atmospheric Regional Crime: Perfect for those who love the "Surrey Noir" setting—contrasting the picturesque Surrey Hills with a brutal underbelly.
Themes: Serial killer thriller, voodoo rituals, eating disorder representation, family secrets, Surrey Hills, university campus mystery.
What Makes Stephanie Broadbent Distinctive:
Endearing Human Flaws: Stephanie is an elite detective who battles a secret eating disorder (bulimia) triggered by childhood abuse, making her a deeply relatable and vulnerable protagonist.
The "Sibling" Dynamic: The series centres on Stephanie’s overprotective bond with her sister, Kimberley, and the secrets they kept to survive their father.
A Different Kind of Justice: Unlike traditional procedural leads, Stephanie is willing to "fall on her sword" for her team, even when they undermine her authority.
Story Details:
Genre: Serial Killer Thriller / Police Procedural.
Mood: Tense, Gritty, Emotional, Atmospheric.
Format: Full-length novel.
Reading Time: Approximately 7–9 hours.
Setting: Guildford and the Surrey Hills, UK.
Series Entry: Book 5 of the DI Stephanie Broadbent Crime Thriller Series.
All of the books in DI Stephanie Broadbent series are also available on Kindle and in Kindle Unlimited. Click the link below to be taken directly to the Amazon series page.
Thanks for your interest in the DI Stephanie Broadbent series. This story has been brewing for a long time, and it means a lot to me on a personal level. Set in Guildford, Surrey, it blends gritty murder investigations with deeply human struggles—and no shortage of dark secrets. Stephanie is complicated, sharp, and scarred by her past, which makes writing her both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I hope you enjoy unravelling these cases as much as I’ve enjoyed putting them together.
