The Craftsmen

Florence Lovelady's career was made when she convicted coffin-maker Larry Glassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago. Like something from our worst nightmares the victims were buried...alive. Larry confessed to the crimes; it was an open and shut case. But now he's dead, and events from the past start to repeat themselves. Did she get it wrong all those years ago? Or is there something much darker at play?

Florence Lovelady's career was made when she convicted coffin-maker Larry Grassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago in a small village in Lancashire. Like something out of a nightmare, the victims were buried alive. Florence was able to solve the mystery and get a confession out of Larry before more children were murdered, and he spent the rest of his life in prison. But now, decades later, he's dead, and events from the past start to repeat themselves. When her own son goes missing under similar circumstances, the case not only gets reopened...it gets personal.

Set in the same world as The Craftsman, senior policewoman, Florence Lovelady visits the man she put away for murder thirty years earlier. It is the last time she and Larry Glassbrook will meet. He is dying. He wants her to go back to Sabden, in the shadow of Pendle Hill where they met. Four child skeletons have been uncovered near a children's home and Larry, who knows a bit about rotting corpses, isn't buying the official line that these are ancient remains. 'You knew there was something wrong in that town, Florence,' he says. 'More than just me.'