The Long Dead

by Philip Eliot | Sep 11, 2026 | Crime Fiction | 0 comments

Meet Detective Chief Inspector John Blizzard — burly and blunt. He takes no nonsense from crooks or his superiors.The bestselling British detective series starts here — in a windswept Northern city where the past is never truly dead. The books have over 7000 five-star reviews.On the edge of Hafton — a cold, rainy city shadowed by its industrial past — construction workers uncover a burial site beneath an old farm. Fifteen bodies lie beneath the frostbitten soil: German POWs from World War II. But one body doesn’t belong.Modern clothes. A bullet in the skull. And a very recent death.DCI John Blizzard is called in to investigate. The dead man was a known thug with dangerous connections — but what was he doing at the site of a disused prisoner-of-war camp, and why has someone gone to such lengths to hide him?As Blizzard digs deeper, he uncovers a trail of secrets stretching back to the dying days of the war — and a conspiracy that someone is willing to kill for. With pressure from above and the past closing in, Blizzard must race to uncover the truth before more bodies fall.A gripping and atmospheric police procedural that explores how history never stays buried.Perfect for fans of Peter Robinson, Ian Rankin, Bill Kitson, and Ann Cleeves.DCI John Blizzard is gruff, stubborn, and driven by an uncompromising sense of justice. With decades on the force and a sharp eye for what others miss, he’s built a reputation for rooting out lies — whether from criminals or his own superiors. He doesn’t do diplomacy, but he does get results.THE LOCATIONSet in the fictional Northern city of Hafton, where flat, windswept farmland meets faded industry. The ruins of a World War II prisoner-of-war camp, hidden in the mists beyond the city, become the chilling stage for a murder that echoes across generations.THE SERIES HAS 1000s OF FIVE-STAR REVIEWS“????? Excellent murder mystery storyline, enjoyed the read.”— Kindle Customer“????? Great book, keeps you on your toes, with an unexpected twist at the end. Well worth picking up to read.”— Kerry“????? Another great book. The banter between Blizzard and the team is so good. The way he deals with the cases is really good. A must read.”— Mulli“????? Another well written and crafted story from John Dean. Lots of action with plenty of twists and turns and an exciting ending.”— Kindle Customer“????? A thoroughly entertaining read, with realistic characters who continue to develop as the series of DCI Blizzard books keeps improving. Highly recommended.”— John O“????? Love this writer and this book did not disappoint.”— Sue Armstrong“????? This was a different direction of investigation, looking for a shooter with a list of people to kill, including cops.”— Susan Green“????? All of John Dean’s books are good but I love DCI Blizzard! The books are carefully plotted and the characters are well written. I hope there are many more books in the series. I highly recommend this book!”— Elizabeth P.“????? Very good addition to the DCI Blizzard series. The author has another series that I like as well, the DCI Harris series. No nonsense detective with interesting plot turns.”— J Austen“????? Just wasn’t long enough. I like DCI Blizzard and would like to know more about him.”— Zippie 65