Fresh Lead presents ten new stories from the world of Detective Kate Ellis.  In the aftermath of the River Soar murders, Kate finds herself in an uneasy place. Grieving the collapse of her relationship with Petra and haunted by the decisions that brought the case to an end, she can take little comfort from the praise that surrounds her. Everyone sees a hero—except Kate herself. To move forward, she must find a way to live with what she’s lost, and to rediscover a measure of peace in her own company.

Now newly promoted to Detective Inspector, Kate must navigate the treacherous politics of her department, where ambition often outweighs integrity and the new Chief Constable’s approval is the prize everyone seeks. The pressures of command are offset by moments of solace: time spent with family, and the quiet satisfaction of real police work. From a botched armed robbery that leaves a guard dead, to an academic attacked and left for dead in the cloistered world of the local university, Kate faces crimes that test both her judgement and her capacity for compassion.

Fresh Lead reveals a more reflective, mature Kate Ellis—learning to set aside her anger, and finally beginning to make peace with herself.

Fresh Lead will be published on August 15th 2026. Pre-order here.