She returned home to start again. Instead, she woke the darkness she thought she'd buried.
DI Stephanie Broadbent hasn’t been back to her hometown in over twenty years. A fractured childhood and a past best forgotten kept her away. But the sudden loss of a colleague leaves her burned out and broken—and the quiet promise of the Surrey Hills, along with a chance to reconnect with her sister, proves too hard to resist.
Peace, however, is short-lived.
Before she’s even settled in, a university student is found dead in her halls of residence after a night out. What first appears to be an open and shut case takes a darker turn when a voodoo doll is found near the body.
With old memories resurfacing and members of her new team keeping her at arm’s length, Stephanie is forced to confront the ghosts of her past—while racing to stop a killer whose next move is already taking shape in thread and cloth.
A Gritty Descent into Surrey Noir - The Voodoo Killer is the explosive first 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 1 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.
Great book, I'm still reading it andcan'twait to read the next one
D
Debbie Eyre
OMG this grabs you from the very start and it does not let go
OMG this grabs you from the very start and it does not let go. Book one in this new series and it definitely has plenty of thrills and chills and keeps you guessing from start to finish. DI Steph Broadbent has moved back home and has to start over with a new to her team which brings its own issues from certain members. As well as having personal issues to work through and lots of unpacking to do, there’s a killer loose on campus and no two murders are the same and as if they are taunting the police, the killer leaves a voodoo doll behind showing how the next victim will die!! It’s a gripping and enthralling read as the author spins this story throwing twists and turns in our path and leaves us aghast with an ending I definitely did not see coming! I am so excited to see more from this series!
C
Clive
Great signed book
Great signed book. Very pleased with it. Thanks
H
Helen L
A great read from start to finish
I read this as a beta version (so changes have been made). I have read the Jake Tanner series, Tomek Bowen and love them. So a new character, new setting, is a refreshing addition. From the start the storyline is packed with detail; the unsettling feeling of fitting into a new team is really highlighted and the characters are all very different. I particularly disliked one - for deliberately going off orders - and the fact that I had barely warmed to him by the end showed that Jacks writing is so good. Stephanie is a very complex character; she has demons that aren’t your stereotypical main character ones - so links to useful sites are in the book. I didn’t see the end coming; the murders are well written and tie together well. The version I read is not the published one, so I did read the new book and it fitted perfectly. Thank you, Jack, for the acknowledgment; glad to help and advise! Looking forward to the next instalment!
Death's Push - A Prequel Novella
Sign up to the mailing list below to receive an exclusive prequel novella, delivered directly to your inbox.
Thank you!
You have successfully joined our subscriber list.
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
