A Restless Evil

Unearthing the Past’s Deadly Secrets

A Restless Evil by Ann Granger (2002, Headline) opens with a grisly discovery in the tranquil riverside village of Willowford: the body of a young woman, long thought to have vanished without a trace. Detective Inspector Tom Hadley arrives to find a community rattled by suspicion and old grudges. Granger’s crisp prose peels back layers of village politeness to reveal simmering resentments, unspoken alliances, and a past that refuses to stay buried.

A Test of Morality and Justice

As DI Hadley and his partner sift through conflicting testimonies—between the local vicar, the retired schoolteacher, and the victim’s estranged family—they encounter a web of half-truths and hidden agendas. Each clue raises new questions: Was this a crime of passion, an act of vengeance, or something far more calculated? Granger balances methodical detective work with moments of unsettling atmosphere, from moonlit moors to candlelit parish halls.

Unflinching in its portrayal of rural tensions and human frailty, A Restless Evil is a masterclass in psychological suspense. Ann Granger delivers a haunting exploration of how far people will go to protect secrets—and how the quest for justice can demand a reckoning with one’s own conscience.