The multi-million bestselling author

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Poison Garden

For Detective Chief Inspector Ryan, the stakes have never been higher. Most of the world thinks he’s dead, killed by an assasin’s rifle in his own home. But another man took the bullet intended for him, and now Ryan’s living on borrowed time. As long as he stays ‘dead’, in the sanctuary of his parents’ home in Devon, there’s a chance to find the people behind the deadly killing network. It’s only a matter of time before his secret’s uncovered, and nowhere will be safe.

Back in Northumberland, Ryan’s team are called in to investigate the mysterious death of a man in Alnwick, who collapsed yards from the walls of its Mediaeval castle. When a second person is rushed to hospital with the same symptoms, her life hangs in the balance unless they can discover the toxic substance that’s killing her. For DCs Lowerson and Reed, there’s only one place to look for inspiration—the Poison Garden…

Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit, set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.

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DCI Ryan Series

International bestselling, atmospheric mysteries set amidst the spectacular landscape of the North East of England

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OTHER BOOKS FROM LJ ROSS

Did you know LJ Ross has written several other bestselling series of books? From atmospheric crime and thrillers to romantic suspense and epic historical sagas, there’s something for every reader…

Characters

Detective Chief Inspector Ryan

Maxwell Finley-Ryan, known simply as ‘Ryan’, is insightful, intelligent and compassionate—both to the living and the dead whom he is tasked to avenge. A born leader, he inspires others to be the best they can be and, more importantly, to hope for the best in others, even in the darkest of times. With an unyielding moral compass and an irreverent sense of humour, he is utterly incorruptible. Where he loves, he loves fiercely.

Favourite songs: Make it With You (Bread); Thunderstruck (AC/DC); Heroes (David Bowie); Eye of the Tiger (Survivor); Paint it Black (Rolling Stones); Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen); Pride (U2); Alive (Pearl Jam); Dangerzone (Kenny Loggins) and anything by Puccini or Miles Davis.

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Detective Sergeant Frank Phillips

Frank Phillips is sharp, sturdy and, above all else, a loyal friend. As a long-time connoisseur of stottie cakes, he knows where to procure one as readily as he knows where to find an elusive informant. His gruff, no-nonsense exterior and bawdy sense of humour belies a soft-hearted interior, which he reserves for those he loves.

Favourite songs: Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond); Rhinestone Cowboy (Glenn Campbell); Big River (Jimmy Nail); Friday I’m in Love (The Cure); Get it On (T. Rex); Old Days (Chicago); Rock the Casbah (The Clash).

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Dr Anna Taylor-Ryan

Bright and brave, loving and endlessly patient, Anna sees the very best in others and seeks always to lift them up. A respected historian, she’s an intellectual who loves eighties’ music, travelling to faraway places and the breath of the North Sea when she returns home to her beloved North East.

Favourite songs: Holdin’ out for a Hero (Bonnie Tyler); Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac); You & Me Song (The Wannadies); Waiting for a Star to Fall (Boy Meets Girl); The King of Wishful Thinking (Go West); Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson); Ventura Highway (America); Hysteria (Def Leppard); Lovesong (The Cure).

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Detective Inspector Denise MacKenzie

Tough, classy and resilient, Denise MacKenzie is an outstanding detective and friend who goes above and beyond, but seldom suffers fools gladly.

Favourite songs: 9 to 5 (Dolly Parton); Hold On (Wilson Phillips); Into the Groove (Madonna); What’s Love Got to Do With It (Tina Turner); Fly Me to the Moon (Frank Sinatra); We Didn’t Start the Fire (Billy Joel); American Woman (Lenny Kravitz).

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DCI Ryan’s North East

Discover DCI Ryan’s North East…

Explore the inspirational landscapes behind LJ’s books, along with some of her personal recommendations – click on the numbered places on the map to get started

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ABOUT LJ ROSS

LJ Ross is an internationally bestselling author, whose books have sold ten million copies worldwide.

Her debut, Holy Island, was released in 2015 and became an instant, international bestseller. Since then, more than twenty of her novels have gone on to take the coveted #1 spot, some even before general release and whilst only available to ‘pre-order’. The Bookseller magazine has reported on Louise having topped the ‘Most Read’ and ‘Most Sold’ fiction charts, and she has garnered an army of loyal fans who love her atmospheric and addictive storytelling.

Her eleventh novel, ‘The Infirmary’, is a prequel story to the DCI Ryan series and is available as a major Audible Originals audio-drama starring Tom Bateman, Kevin Whately, Bertie Carvel, Hermione Norris and Alun Armstrong.

The first novel in her Alexander Gregory Thrillers series, Impostor, was shortlisted in the British Book Awards 2020: Crime & Thriller Book of the Year. The audiobook of Impostor, narrated by Hugh Dancy, was also selected as a finalist in the New York Festivals Radio Awards, Best Fiction Audiobook of the Year Category.

In May 2021, Louise was shortlisted for the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association ‘Dagger in the Library’ award, which recognises an author’s entire body of work having been consistently enjoyed by library borrowers around the United Kingdom, and an author’s longstanding support of libraries.

Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write. Now, she writes full time and lives with her husband and son in Northumberland and Edinburgh. She enjoys reading all manner of books, painting, travelling and spending time with family and friends.

To find out more about the many philanthropic ventures Louise has founded and sponsored through her publishing imprint, Dark Skies Publishing, please visit ‘Philanthropy’.

 

IN THE PRESS

LJ Ross one of Robson Green’s special guests on ‘Weekend Escapes’

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Ross outsells Harry Potter and Game of Thrones

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Ross is boss in the Bookstat chart.

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Second bestselling series of all time on Amazon UK

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LJ Ross has “burst like a comet onto the literary scene

A literary phenomenon!

NEWS & EVENTS

Events

Wednesday 20 September 2023

An Evening with LJ Ross, Darlington Library

Events

Saturday 14 October 2023

Big Read Author – East Riding Festival of Words, Beverley, Yorkshire

Events

Wednesday 19 April 2023

London Book Fair, Kensington Olympia

Guest Speaker, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

 

Events

Saturday 25 February 2023

A Poisoned Dinner with LJ Ross, Alnwick StoryFest, The Poison Garden, Alnwick

Events

Saturday 10 December 2022

Speaker, Newcastle Noir Crime Festival, Newcastle upon Tyne

From 11am

Events

Saturday 03 December 2022

Signing, The Accidental Bookshop, Alnwick

12-1pm