What do you think?
Rate this book
DS Coupland #1
Fragile Cord: DS Coupland, Book 1
Fragile Cord is an emotional roller coaster charting the psychological meltdown of a mother with a deadly secret.
Tracey Kavanagh was her usual upbeat self - right up until the moment she drowned her son and tied a rope around her neck, killing herself and her unborn child.
For Alex Moreton, this case couldn't have come at a worse time. Battling with her partner over whether to have another child, she is superstitious about pushing their luck - they're happy enough as they are...aren't they?
DS Kevin Coupland is dealing with a serious assault outside a wine bar in Swinton. Devoted family man Ricky Wilson is brutally stabbed following an altercation with youths while out with his wife and their children to celebrate her birthday.
Coupland and Moreton's cases merge when it transpires that Tracey and Ricky were tragically connected. Is it possible that there could be more to these two investigations than pure coincidence?
Tracey Kavanagh was her usual upbeat self - right up until the moment she drowned her son and tied a rope around her neck, killing herself and her unborn child.
For Alex Moreton, this case couldn't have come at a worse time. Battling with her partner over whether to have another child, she is superstitious about pushing their luck - they're happy enough as they are...aren't they?
DS Kevin Coupland is dealing with a serious assault outside a wine bar in Swinton. Devoted family man Ricky Wilson is brutally stabbed following an altercation with youths while out with his wife and their children to celebrate her birthday.
Coupland and Moreton's cases merge when it transpires that Tracey and Ricky were tragically connected. Is it possible that there could be more to these two investigations than pure coincidence?
Audible Audio
First published May 10, 2013
2164 people are currently reading
1606 people want to read
About the author
Emma Salisbury
28 books80 followersJoffe Books Prize 2024 Finalist. I write gritty, crime fiction that focuses on the 'why'dunnit as well as the 'who'. I worked for a housing association supporting socially excluded men and ex-offenders, which provided me with a lot of inspiration. Fans of BBC series Happy Valley should try both my Coupland and Ashcroft detective series for their unflinching realism and pace.
ONE GOOD REASON, the first in my DS Ashcroft series, published by Bloodhound Books is out now!
Born and brought up in Manchester, I moved to Scotland 25 years ago. My inspiration initially came from working for a housing association supporting ex offenders into work.
Most evenings I can be found walking the family dogs on the beach near our home in East Lothian, Scotland. You can find out more on my website www.emmasalisbury.com and I can be found on Linktr.ee/Emma Salisbury
ONE GOOD REASON, the first in my DS Ashcroft series, published by Bloodhound Books is out now!
Born and brought up in Manchester, I moved to Scotland 25 years ago. My inspiration initially came from working for a housing association supporting ex offenders into work.
Most evenings I can be found walking the family dogs on the beach near our home in East Lothian, Scotland. You can find out more on my website www.emmasalisbury.com and I can be found on Linktr.ee/Emma Salisbury
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
August 8, 2016
This book was all over the place. It spent too much time concentrating on the personal lives of the detectives rather than the case itself. This took away a lot of the thrill. Too much time was also spent on descriptions of the city/town of Salford. After the murder/suicide is introduced, there is no progress on the case until you are well toward the end of the book. In an effort to increase suspense, the author leaves threads and jumps somewhere else. This ends up increasing frustration rather than suspense. The central plot was interesting but the way it was told wasn't great.
There were also a lot of errors in editing.
There were also a lot of errors in editing.
February 2, 2015
I was really surprised by this. it had me gripped from the start. I think I was expecting it to be a hard book to read given the subject matter but even though the author doesn't pull her punches the detectives working on the case are so fully rounded I ended up being hooked into wanting to find out what happened not just about the two cases that are central to the story but also in Coupland and Moreton's private lives. Would definitely recommend this book and have already started on the follow up.
January 7, 2015
Two seemingly unrelated investigations become connected when the police realize that links between a murder/suicide and a separate assault might be more than a coincidence.
I was gripped immediately by the prologue of this book and the thoughts of the mother in the school playground. I wondered why she was thinking such things and I had to keep reading.
There are quite a few characters to get to know in one go due to the two investigations. Once I got to know who was who I could concentrate on their personalities and interactions with each other. The two main characters, Kevin and Alex, are well written and how they investigate their cases is interesting and comes across as realistic.
Some parts of this book are not for the faint hearted, but as this is a police procedural story I thought that they were both necessary and important parts of the book. This book is a true page-turner that had me hooked from the first page. I hope there is more like this to come.
I was gripped immediately by the prologue of this book and the thoughts of the mother in the school playground. I wondered why she was thinking such things and I had to keep reading.
There are quite a few characters to get to know in one go due to the two investigations. Once I got to know who was who I could concentrate on their personalities and interactions with each other. The two main characters, Kevin and Alex, are well written and how they investigate their cases is interesting and comes across as realistic.
Some parts of this book are not for the faint hearted, but as this is a police procedural story I thought that they were both necessary and important parts of the book. This book is a true page-turner that had me hooked from the first page. I hope there is more like this to come.
July 18, 2015
Really well written, gritty and realistic. The book was thought provoking and the characters believable and well rounded. I especially liked the way the setting (Salford) permeated the book.
The first page can only be described as attention grabbing and hard hitting. The book describes the efforts of those affected to come to terms with the murder / suicide. WHY?!?
We meet people who are desperately trying to cope with their lives - with the the loss of loved ones and the effects of crime and war. 'It's a fragile cord that binds us to sanity...'
In all, excellent. I'll be reading the next in the series!
The first page can only be described as attention grabbing and hard hitting. The book describes the efforts of those affected to come to terms with the murder / suicide. WHY?!?
We meet people who are desperately trying to cope with their lives - with the the loss of loved ones and the effects of crime and war. 'It's a fragile cord that binds us to sanity...'
In all, excellent. I'll be reading the next in the series!
August 19, 2014
Interesting plot, believable characters, realistic writing. There are no unnecessary details, the book is fast-paced and keeps you interested until the end.
The book follows a police enquiry into the shocking murder-suicide that took place within an apparently happy family. Why would a mother (pregnant with a second child) kill her son and then hang herself?
What I really liked about the book is that there are no hints along the way, nothing to make you guess what really happened, so you have to wait until you get to the end, when all the pieces fall into place.
The book follows a police enquiry into the shocking murder-suicide that took place within an apparently happy family. Why would a mother (pregnant with a second child) kill her son and then hang herself?
What I really liked about the book is that there are no hints along the way, nothing to make you guess what really happened, so you have to wait until you get to the end, when all the pieces fall into place.
October 25, 2014
A well written debut, with good lead characters in detectives Coupland & Moreton. The story flows nicely, with good pace & twist to the plot, & plenty of intrigue to keep you guessing & hooked. Without giving too much away, there is similarity to a very well know real life case, which seemed very obvious to me, but that could just be me, & I'd like to point out, that not for one moment am I suggesting its a copy of it, or based on it. Hope to see more of this author & hope this is the beginning of a series. Definitely recommend this.
December 28, 2025
Setting: Salford, Manchester; late 20th century.
This is the first book in a UK-based crime series featuring Detective Sergeant Kevin Coupland.
Kevin and his team, including his ambitious detective constable Alex Moreton, are tasked with investigating an apparent murder/suicide where a young woman has killed her son and then herself, leaving her husband absolutely bereft. Alex, with a son of the same age, is particularly affected by the case, wondering what has driven this mother to commit such a horrific act and whether any circumstances could tempt her along the same route. Answers are slow to come in the case but eventually reveal all, including an obscure link to the second case...
...where a man out with his family for a meal confronts some young women who have stolen his wife's handbag and ends up getting knifed from his trouble...
This was an interesting first read in a series, set in an area of Manchester I have some knowledge of as one of my daughters went to university there. I can certainly relate to some of the issues highlighted by the characters around the redevelopment and regeneration of the area, painting a bright and modern facade on the area yet leaving the poverty, deprivation and criminality almost hidden in the background to trap the unwary. Great characters and I am looking forward to how these are developed in future books - 8.5/10.
This is the first book in a UK-based crime series featuring Detective Sergeant Kevin Coupland.
Kevin and his team, including his ambitious detective constable Alex Moreton, are tasked with investigating an apparent murder/suicide where a young woman has killed her son and then herself, leaving her husband absolutely bereft. Alex, with a son of the same age, is particularly affected by the case, wondering what has driven this mother to commit such a horrific act and whether any circumstances could tempt her along the same route. Answers are slow to come in the case but eventually reveal all, including an obscure link to the second case...
...where a man out with his family for a meal confronts some young women who have stolen his wife's handbag and ends up getting knifed from his trouble...
This was an interesting first read in a series, set in an area of Manchester I have some knowledge of as one of my daughters went to university there. I can certainly relate to some of the issues highlighted by the characters around the redevelopment and regeneration of the area, painting a bright and modern facade on the area yet leaving the poverty, deprivation and criminality almost hidden in the background to trap the unwary. Great characters and I am looking forward to how these are developed in future books - 8.5/10.
July 8, 2025
this was an audible plus read and glad that it was free.
I didn't really understand the crime being investigated as it seemed to be more about satisfying the detectives curiosity
I didn't really understand the crime being investigated as it seemed to be more about satisfying the detectives curiosity
December 27, 2015
Fragile Cord is the first book in the DS Coupland series.
I have to say the book description for this novel really grabbed me. I mean why on earth would a mother kill their child and then themselves? What is even weirder is that what looks like two totally unrelated crimes turn out to be connected.
Kevin Coupland and Alex Moreton were characters that I both liked. They are both good at their jobs but are having problems in their personal lives also. I could really sympathise with Alex, as a mother as well as a police officer, she is struggling to understand how any mother could do what Tanya has done to her son. It certainly seemed to make her question herself as a person as well as a mother.
As the story goes a long it becomes obvious there is a lot more to Tanya that even her own husband doesn't know. It certainly is a shocking read in parts which also took me by surprise as there are a few twists and turns in there.
Fragile Cord is a great starting point for a new series and look forward to seeing more of the main characters.
I have to say the book description for this novel really grabbed me. I mean why on earth would a mother kill their child and then themselves? What is even weirder is that what looks like two totally unrelated crimes turn out to be connected.
Kevin Coupland and Alex Moreton were characters that I both liked. They are both good at their jobs but are having problems in their personal lives also. I could really sympathise with Alex, as a mother as well as a police officer, she is struggling to understand how any mother could do what Tanya has done to her son. It certainly seemed to make her question herself as a person as well as a mother.
As the story goes a long it becomes obvious there is a lot more to Tanya that even her own husband doesn't know. It certainly is a shocking read in parts which also took me by surprise as there are a few twists and turns in there.
Fragile Cord is a great starting point for a new series and look forward to seeing more of the main characters.
July 17, 2015
Really enjoyed this so have downloaded Book 2.
August 27, 2016
Definitely a story that left you pondering
T_T
T_T
December 7, 2014
Another new author to me but very enjoyable.
July 1, 2025
This dragged on far longer than it needed too. I lost interest because the silly side stories just didn’t really have profound impacts on the main plot. I’m still confused about who killed Ricky, did Tracey truly kill herself or was it someone else. Boooooring
March 11, 2020
Gripping From The Beginning
This book grabs you by the throat and doesn't let you go until the last few pages.
There are two stories going on. The first is a murder and the second is a murder or not.
Multiple levels to the characters.
Love, hate, death and self realization.
This book grabs you by the throat and doesn't let you go until the last few pages.
There are two stories going on. The first is a murder and the second is a murder or not.
Multiple levels to the characters.
Love, hate, death and self realization.
February 2, 2017
This story is dirty, gritty and I loved it. Emma Salisbury explores the underbelly of British crime, taking in an assemblage of sordid, shady and sleazy characters along the way as well as a wealthy respectable family with their own unexplainable tragedy to deal with. The two cases are as far apart as it’s possible to be. Obviously, they’re not connected
Many authors suffer from that completely understandable disease of wanting their characters to be liked. Salisbury endures no such misconceptions. Her characters aren’t likeable or charismatic in any way, shape of form. The reader may feel empathy for him, but it’s also difficult to like the recently bereaved father and husband.
Despite this there are mysteries here that need unravelling. Why did a wealthy mother with everything to live for murder a son she clearly doted on and then go to commit suicide? And who killed Ricky Wilson? And why?
Detective Sergeant Kevin Coupland and Detective Constable Alex Moreton have their own demons to deal with. Coupland’s recently been caught groping a female colleague and his wife’s none too happy about it, and Alex Moreton, whose husband wants to try for another child, fears that one day she could also flip and kill one of her own children.
All in all, this makes for an easily readable, engaging tale, and as a scribbler myself I have to applaud Salisbury’s audacity in writing a dirty, gritty story that hits the reader like a double hook followed by an unexpected uppercut.
Emma Salisbury is true to her craft
Many authors suffer from that completely understandable disease of wanting their characters to be liked. Salisbury endures no such misconceptions. Her characters aren’t likeable or charismatic in any way, shape of form. The reader may feel empathy for him, but it’s also difficult to like the recently bereaved father and husband.
Despite this there are mysteries here that need unravelling. Why did a wealthy mother with everything to live for murder a son she clearly doted on and then go to commit suicide? And who killed Ricky Wilson? And why?
Detective Sergeant Kevin Coupland and Detective Constable Alex Moreton have their own demons to deal with. Coupland’s recently been caught groping a female colleague and his wife’s none too happy about it, and Alex Moreton, whose husband wants to try for another child, fears that one day she could also flip and kill one of her own children.
All in all, this makes for an easily readable, engaging tale, and as a scribbler myself I have to applaud Salisbury’s audacity in writing a dirty, gritty story that hits the reader like a double hook followed by an unexpected uppercut.
Emma Salisbury is true to her craft
November 12, 2017
This book held me but not by the tortuous question of who done it or by the twists and turns of those destined to keep you on tenterhooks as you read. It held me with its realism. The police: ordinary people doing and an extraordinary job. The victims: ordinary people just living their lives. The perpetrators of crime: some born to be typecast but not all.....
The book would make a chilling (if not thrilling) TV drama. Mundanity mixed with the cruel, soulless, heartbreaking acts and events that blandly fill The News each day. I will read more by this author.
The book would make a chilling (if not thrilling) TV drama. Mundanity mixed with the cruel, soulless, heartbreaking acts and events that blandly fill The News each day. I will read more by this author.
November 28, 2014
Oh dear. Clearly proof-reading has been skipped in this. A real shame as I was enjoying the actual story and there's a lot to learn about the characters but I got totally worn down with the errors throughout and jacked it in at 16%.
Firstly TS Elliot was spelt wrong-it's Eliot and always has been...ouch. There's an issue with capital letters...one minute missing where they need to be (exocet) or added where they shouldn't be (Peritonitis/Relatives').
There were a lot of missed commas which you can sometimes get away with but at other times it just reads wrong-"Go and brush your teeth love" or "Usual Osman". Words were dropped from sentences like to and then the Wilsons got an apostrophe they didn't need. Sound bites isn't spelled bytes and coupla' isn't coupl'a and doner not donner. Straightforward is usually just one word and I gave in when she "waived" him away impatiently and switched off in disgust. Bear in mind I happened across this little lot barely a fifth of the way in !!
I liked her acknowledgement to her readers at the beginning-that was a nice touch, though.If she gets a proper editing exercise done I'd certainly have another go.
Oh, and my cover was different. It's a nicer one than the one shown here-a bluey street scene. Wish authors wouldn't do this.
Firstly TS Elliot was spelt wrong-it's Eliot and always has been...ouch. There's an issue with capital letters...one minute missing where they need to be (exocet) or added where they shouldn't be (Peritonitis/Relatives').
There were a lot of missed commas which you can sometimes get away with but at other times it just reads wrong-"Go and brush your teeth love" or "Usual Osman". Words were dropped from sentences like to and then the Wilsons got an apostrophe they didn't need. Sound bites isn't spelled bytes and coupla' isn't coupl'a and doner not donner. Straightforward is usually just one word and I gave in when she "waived" him away impatiently and switched off in disgust. Bear in mind I happened across this little lot barely a fifth of the way in !!
I liked her acknowledgement to her readers at the beginning-that was a nice touch, though.If she gets a proper editing exercise done I'd certainly have another go.
Oh, and my cover was different. It's a nicer one than the one shown here-a bluey street scene. Wish authors wouldn't do this.
June 15, 2016
This is the first book in the DS Coupland series but I have already read book 3 which I loved so for me this was a case of going back and filling in the gaps. The prologue to the story is a fascinating one. A boy comes out of school and hands his mother a drawing. With this she declares he must be killed. A murder, suicide follows and Coupland and his team are left to try and work out why.
As a first in the series a lot of characters are introduced but I think that this is well done and it isn't too difficult to work out who is who and a bit about them. The character of Coupland is an interesting one and one who clearly has a lot going on in his home life as well as trying to stay ahead of the game at work. His DC, Alex Moreton is facing pressure from her husband to have more children but how can she do that when she sees the horrors of life at work? The descriptions of Salford as a setting are really well written, they do add to the storyline greatly. I plan to start book number 2 very soon.
As a first in the series a lot of characters are introduced but I think that this is well done and it isn't too difficult to work out who is who and a bit about them. The character of Coupland is an interesting one and one who clearly has a lot going on in his home life as well as trying to stay ahead of the game at work. His DC, Alex Moreton is facing pressure from her husband to have more children but how can she do that when she sees the horrors of life at work? The descriptions of Salford as a setting are really well written, they do add to the storyline greatly. I plan to start book number 2 very soon.
July 30, 2017
This is the first book in the DS Coupland series. Detectives Kevin Coupland and Alex Moreton investigate two unrelated crimes, but there is a connection.
The first is a murder / suicide. Tracy Kavanagh a happily married mother, pregnant with her second child, suddenly drowns her young son in the bath and then hangs herself. The other, devoted father Ricky Wilson is brutally stabbed while out with his family, celebrating his wife's birthday.
As Kevin and Alex investigate these crimes, it becomes apparent that the two cases merge, but how and why ?
Family secrets are uncovered and as the investigation continues, Kevin and Alex have personal issues of their own to deal with.
This story flowed nicely and there were lots of twists and turns in the plot along the way. It was an engaging story and I will look forward to reading the next book in the DS Coupland series.
The first is a murder / suicide. Tracy Kavanagh a happily married mother, pregnant with her second child, suddenly drowns her young son in the bath and then hangs herself. The other, devoted father Ricky Wilson is brutally stabbed while out with his family, celebrating his wife's birthday.
As Kevin and Alex investigate these crimes, it becomes apparent that the two cases merge, but how and why ?
Family secrets are uncovered and as the investigation continues, Kevin and Alex have personal issues of their own to deal with.
This story flowed nicely and there were lots of twists and turns in the plot along the way. It was an engaging story and I will look forward to reading the next book in the DS Coupland series.
July 5, 2017
Thought-provoking police procedural
The two protagonists here are DC Alex Moreton and DS Coupland (his first name doesn't matter). The police officers are trying to solve one crime and trying to make sense of another. A mother has killed her small son and then herself with her unborn child and Alex in particular is trying to understand how a mother could do such a thing, because what if one day she snapped and killed her own child? Coupland has his own demons to deal with while trying to make sense of this crime and solve a senseless murder. Shows how police officers are badly affected by horrible crimes, especially the murder of children. A really satisfying and intriguing read.
The two protagonists here are DC Alex Moreton and DS Coupland (his first name doesn't matter). The police officers are trying to solve one crime and trying to make sense of another. A mother has killed her small son and then herself with her unborn child and Alex in particular is trying to understand how a mother could do such a thing, because what if one day she snapped and killed her own child? Coupland has his own demons to deal with while trying to make sense of this crime and solve a senseless murder. Shows how police officers are badly affected by horrible crimes, especially the murder of children. A really satisfying and intriguing read.
June 17, 2017
A terrific police procedural
Why would a young happily married woman suddenly decide to kill her young son and commit suicide? Alex, the young female detective investigating this with her seasoned partner Detective Coupland, wants desperately know. She also is a young wife with a young son. At the same time, there is an investigation concerning the stabbing murder of a man while on an outing with his family. The story is well done and really kept my attention. The characters were very well developed, all with their own baggage. Even after finishing the book, the characters and story lines are still with me. I will read more by this excellent author.
Why would a young happily married woman suddenly decide to kill her young son and commit suicide? Alex, the young female detective investigating this with her seasoned partner Detective Coupland, wants desperately know. She also is a young wife with a young son. At the same time, there is an investigation concerning the stabbing murder of a man while on an outing with his family. The story is well done and really kept my attention. The characters were very well developed, all with their own baggage. Even after finishing the book, the characters and story lines are still with me. I will read more by this excellent author.
August 25, 2018
What a let down? ? ?
The first couple of chapters seemed promising but sadly the plot fizzled out.
Why do the majority of crime writers feel their detectives should be 'troubled'? In this book there are two for one 'troubled' detectives and most of the book is taken up with describing their 'troubles'. There is also a 'troubled' solicitor and a 'troubled' homeless character, neither of which add anything to the story.
I have given it two stars, one because it was free and one because I finished it (really must get out more).
The first couple of chapters seemed promising but sadly the plot fizzled out.
Why do the majority of crime writers feel their detectives should be 'troubled'? In this book there are two for one 'troubled' detectives and most of the book is taken up with describing their 'troubles'. There is also a 'troubled' solicitor and a 'troubled' homeless character, neither of which add anything to the story.
I have given it two stars, one because it was free and one because I finished it (really must get out more).
August 10, 2016
Grindingly depressing but at the same time incredibly readable. I have to say I didn't like any of the characters until I was about two-thirds of the way through the story, but they gradually began to grow on me. The writing is great, the plot intricate enough to keep me guessing without becoming farcical and in the end I was left wanting more.
Four stars because early on I nearly gave up reading due to the grimness of it all !
Four stars because early on I nearly gave up reading due to the grimness of it all !
November 4, 2017
Sad, but things happen.
This story keeps you guessing as to how life cannot be explained. Crime and ignorance will always be here, but there will be those who work for justice and in this case...truth. Children are to be loved and protected. Can the past control the future? Find out in this story.
This story keeps you guessing as to how life cannot be explained. Crime and ignorance will always be here, but there will be those who work for justice and in this case...truth. Children are to be loved and protected. Can the past control the future? Find out in this story.
May 13, 2019
I persevered with the dreadful grammar and punctuation in the hope of finding a good story but when two doormen are discovered to have extensive criminal histories and a murdering sex-offender is able via a rehabilitation agency to make contact with a victim who is in the witness protection scheme (actually programme in the UK), and I was obviously expected to move into the realms of fantasy, I finally gave up!
June 12, 2017
This is a cracker! Tightly written, engaging and satisfyingly complex...a book to get your teeth into. Relate-able main characters and secondary characters that you just hope get through their troubles. The baddies are mostly one dimensional...but they are going to jail anyway...I'll definitely be looking for more from this author and from this series! Well done!
August 11, 2017
This is a great book, it does slow down in certain areas but keeps you reading. It follows a suicide and the detectives are trying to figure out why she did. Who would kill themselves and child. It seems unheard of. Well you follow the detectives and what they think and all that. It was really good and very interesting.
September 30, 2017
Started this book slightly puzzled as to which crime was the main plot but as the book progressed it all made more sense, this book shows all too well that appearances can be deceptive, the mothers character was (imo) similar to a swan....appears graceful, elegant, and tranquil-yet no one knows if it's paddling like f*** under water.
Definitely worth reading.
Definitely worth reading.
June 15, 2017
Thought provoking
The characters came to life and you could almost see them. At times it was difficult to read because it was so real and the subject matter involved tragedy.
I appreciated how the author intertwined the characters actions.
The characters came to life and you could almost see them. At times it was difficult to read because it was so real and the subject matter involved tragedy.
I appreciated how the author intertwined the characters actions.
October 30, 2017
Wonderful!!
I really enjoyed this book. Emma Salisbury is a person to watch. I believe that she will go down as one of the best writers. Fragile Cord is a very good book. Well written!!
I really enjoyed this book. Emma Salisbury is a person to watch. I believe that she will go down as one of the best writers. Fragile Cord is a very good book. Well written!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews