In the rugged wilderness of Dartmoor, school teacher Sophie Parsons vanishes without a trace during a weekend trek.
For Detective Inspector Jacob Knox, Sophie’s disappearance stirs unsettling echoes of a previous case involving another woman who vanished in the same desolate moorland six months earlier.
As Knox delves deeper, he uncovers the complexities of Sophie’s personal life, including a secret affair with a charismatic colleague and a tense relationship with her long-term boyfriend, Peter.
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But Sophie’s tangled love life is just the beginning of Knox’s troubles. A local legend about a beast stalking the moors resurfaces, fueling public fear and media speculation.
Is it just a myth, or could something more sinister be at play?
With time running out and the possibility that two women have been claimed by the moor, Knox faces his toughest case yet—one that will test him professionally and personally.
As the case unfolds, Knox realizes the dark truths buried beneath the surface of Sophie’s life may be the key to unlocking the mystery.
Introducing DI Jacob Knox, Hollow Ground is a gripping crime thriller set in the eerie beauty of Devon’s Dartmoor, blending elements of mystery, suspense, and psychological depth to explore the blurred lines between human vulnerability and the unknown.
My Review
So where’s The Beast of Dartmoor or The Hound Of The Baskervilles I hear you ask? That was all a bit of a red herring, as it’s only the media that love to print that sort of thing. Sophie Parsons and Rachel Simmons may be missing, but it’s definitely down to a human connection and not a giant dog or panther.
I absolutely loved this book. It was so enjoyable, I started reading the last few chapters as soon as I woke up – I have a small puppy and having taken her out to ‘potty’ at 6 am, I intended to go back to sleep when she did, but ended up reading until the alarm went off. I needed to get to the end.
It’s not so much a whodunnit – it’s more of a why, and that’s what makes it so interesting. I’m not saying we know all along who is responsible because we don’t, but the reasons are very unusual to say the least.
Our intrepid hero detective DI Jacob Knox is going to be a great ‘leading man’, I can tell already. He’s a complex character and a dog lover (enough said), who gets really involved in the crimes he’s investigating, while trying to reconcile his career with his personal life. It already cost him his marriage. He’s tall, dark and handsome, hair flecked with silver… (no that’s not how the author describes him, I’m simply using my imagination…) and has a German Shepherd called Dylan.
I found the whole concept really engaging and believable, and couldn’t wait to find out the connections between the missing women, and what relationships they might have had in common. Knox has a great team to help him with all the research, sidekick and partner Ava, and the usual IT wizards and forensic experts. Then there’s Lucy, his dog minder, and his alcoholic brother Caleb.
I’m really looking forward to Knox’s next case.
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
About the Author
Freya Wallace is a crime writer based in Devon. Her debut novel, Hollow Ground, introduces DI Knox in the first book of an atmospheric new series set against the backdrop of her local area. A lifelong reader, she always wanted to see a gripping crime series unfold in the place she knows best.
When she’s not writing or reading, Freya can be found walking her two German Shepherds along the local beaches.
Freya’s Social Media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571745819033
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freyawallaceauthor/
Book Links
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221437258-hollow-ground
Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/hollowground-zbt
