The Moorstone

by Michael Knaggs

Detective Inspector Jo Carter’s latest assignment takes her to the birthplace of her husband, Seb, in Bury, Greater Manchester. She is to lend her expertise in investigating the wave of drug trafficking taking place there, but shortly after joining the team, and two days before Christmas, a local 19-year-old woman, Phoebe Wright, goes missing. She was last seen at night, heading out across the deserted and desolate Holcombe Moor. With no evidence of a crime, but no reason why she should abscond, Jo’s team begin to unravel a complex life behind Phoebe’s apparently normal existence. As the investigation unfolds, Jo receives a series of mysterious texts, each a single numerical digit. But where are these messages coming from? Are they linked to the missing person? And is there a connection to a local legend from a quarter of a millennium ago?

When developments take a fatal turn, Jo finds herself in a struggle for control with her hostile second-in-command, Detective Sergeant Andy Mills, whilst wrestling with doubts about the stability of her relationship with Seb. And events will eventually lead her to a terrible truth, and into personal danger.

499 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2025

Reviews

[Roger Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting crime story set in my local area. A 19 years old girl apparently goes missing on Holcombe Moor near the site of the Moorstone monument to a murder victim centuries ago, Ellen Strange (written about by my historian cousin John Simpson). Has she been murdered too or has she absconded? Detective Inspector Jo Carter leads the team from Bury police station in unravelling the mystery which is much more than meets the eye as it turns out with links to organised crime. The narrative is impelling and the author makes good use of his local knowledge. There are several twists and turns in the story which ends in an unusual climax. Above all it is a story about people, some good and some bad, and the author gets under their skin extremely well.

[Debra Conteh · Rating 5 out of 5]

After meeting the author in Altrincham one afternoon this book intrigued me. I haven’t read many crime novels so thought I’d give it a go as my Christmas read. The characters were described so you could almost imagine them as real people, the twists in the story made it a great page turner, as the book continued I found it difficult to put down. I really enjoyed the relationships between the characters and the way you believed the corrupt police officer might be one then the other of them. Although I did work out who he was well before the end. Thoroughly enjoyed this read, would recommend and will probably read again and look out for other crime novels by this author.

[Veronica Le Cheminant · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting reading about a plot in an area I know and that helped keep me interested in the early part of the book which I felt needed to get a move on. I skipped many pages of descriptions and scene setting but once the plot began to unfold I was hooked, especially with how Andy would get his comeuppance. What happened there? The twists in the story were unexpected and plausible. Disappointed with the beginning and the end.

[Bryoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in the area the book is based made this book an absolute pleasure to read. I felt fully submersed in the book and found myself smiling at thoughts of the book as I travel around day to day.
I loved the twists and turns of the book and spent many nights reading past midnight.
I would LOVE a sequel to this or a drama series.

[Sarah White · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 book by a local author so lots of references to where I live. Well written and enjoyable read.

[Keira · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Detective Inspector Jo Carter is sent to Bury, Greater Manchester, her life gets drastically more complicated when a 19-year-old-woman named Phoebe Wright goes missing on the moor. The longer Phoebe is missing for on the treacherous moor, the more strange the case becomes as another police case seems to link to her disappearance, and a local legendary case from millennium ago as well, but how?

As the investigation develops, Jo starts receiving single numerical digit texts, but who by? And do they relate to the case?

Alongside this, Jo is dealing with her seemingly unstable relationship with her husband Seb, and more doubt starts brewing when a vicious murder takes place and puts Jo in danger.
• • • • •
I found this book unexpectedly when visiting Beverley, where I walked into TGJones (WHSmith) and ended up meeting Michael Knaggs, who was there to promote The Moorstone and to do signings for it. He asked me to have a look at the book and see what I thought of it, so I read the blurb and was instantly hooked on this crime thriller. He signed the book for me and sent me on my way and here I am now having finished The Moorstone and seriously wishing for a sequel or a series!

The Moorstone keeps you guessing all the way to the end of the book where the reader is surprised with a double twist. Knaggs perfectly manages to weave in the beauty and terror of the moor, to create an exhilarating crime thriller, whilst also including Jo’s personal life and relationship. I highly recommend this book to any crime thriller lovers or anyone who is wanting to get into this genre, as I couldn’t put the book down!