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Lock Keeper: First He Watches. Then He Strikes: A DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime Thriller - Book 13
Not yet published
Expected 27 Aug 26First he watches. Then he strikes.IS THE TOWPATH PROWLER BACK?Along the Leeds & Liverpool Canal near Skipton, where peaceful narrowboats drift through idyllic Yorkshire countryside, it's happening again.
Women report being watched. Lone joggers feel eyes following them along the towpath. Cyclists hear footsteps in the dusk.
Every woman knows that fear.
DCI Finnegan remembers 1995. He was a young officer when the Towpath Prowler terrorized this same lonely stretch of canal. Five brutal attacks. One woman who vanished without a trace. Then the predator disappeared, leaving the case unsolved.
Now DI Prisha Kumar pulls the dusty file from the cold case archive. The pattern is voyeurism, escalation, violence.
But is this a copycat learning from an old case? Or has the original predator returned after thirty years?
As the attacks escalate, Finnegan knows the clock is ticking. Because the Prowler doesn't just watch.
He takes. And he's already chosen his next victim.
A gripping thriller from bestselling author Ely North. Perfect for fans of Peter James and Val McDermid.
Women report being watched. Lone joggers feel eyes following them along the towpath. Cyclists hear footsteps in the dusk.
Every woman knows that fear.
DCI Finnegan remembers 1995. He was a young officer when the Towpath Prowler terrorized this same lonely stretch of canal. Five brutal attacks. One woman who vanished without a trace. Then the predator disappeared, leaving the case unsolved.
Now DI Prisha Kumar pulls the dusty file from the cold case archive. The pattern is voyeurism, escalation, violence.
But is this a copycat learning from an old case? Or has the original predator returned after thirty years?
As the attacks escalate, Finnegan knows the clock is ticking. Because the Prowler doesn't just watch.
He takes. And he's already chosen his next victim.
A gripping thriller from bestselling author Ely North. Perfect for fans of Peter James and Val McDermid.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 27, 2026
About the author
Ely North
21 books24 followersStart your DCI Finnegan journey with AQUA PHOBIA (The Body in the River) — absolutely free on BookFunnel. No sign-up, just click and download: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/1j1hkjlw6olink
Ely North is the bestselling author of the DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime Thriller series—gritty, gripping, contemporary British police procedurals set against the haunting beauty of Whitby, the North York Moors, surrounding coastal villages, and the majestic Yorkshire Dales.
Leading the charge is DCI Frank Finnegan—a sharp-witted, old-school detective with Irish-Welsh roots and a Yorkshire tongue. With his dry humour and “never back down” attitude, Finnegan is a fan favourite: “a good policeman and a great character.” He’s flanked by DS Zac Stoker, known for his blunt honesty and dogged loyalty, and DI Prisha Kumar, a smart, modern counterbalance to Finnegan’s old-fashioned methods. Their camaraderie—and the occasional clash—gives the series heart as well as edge.
Since its 2022 debut, Ely North’s series has captivated readers worldwide, earning over 33 million Kindle Unlimited page reads, with Black Nab alone topping 5 million.
North’s storytelling blends “twists and turns that keep you guessing” with authentic characters and a strong sense of place.
One reviewer called it “as addictive as anything by Ann Cleeves,” while another said, “Ely North is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.” Perfect for fans of Dervla McTiernan, Peter Robinson, and Joy Ellis.
Ely North’s novels offer crime fiction with atmosphere, dark secrets, and the occasional laugh in the face of murder.
The DCI Finnegan series is set to continue for many more books to come.
Ely North is the bestselling author of the DCI Finnegan Yorkshire Crime Thriller series—gritty, gripping, contemporary British police procedurals set against the haunting beauty of Whitby, the North York Moors, surrounding coastal villages, and the majestic Yorkshire Dales.
Leading the charge is DCI Frank Finnegan—a sharp-witted, old-school detective with Irish-Welsh roots and a Yorkshire tongue. With his dry humour and “never back down” attitude, Finnegan is a fan favourite: “a good policeman and a great character.” He’s flanked by DS Zac Stoker, known for his blunt honesty and dogged loyalty, and DI Prisha Kumar, a smart, modern counterbalance to Finnegan’s old-fashioned methods. Their camaraderie—and the occasional clash—gives the series heart as well as edge.
Since its 2022 debut, Ely North’s series has captivated readers worldwide, earning over 33 million Kindle Unlimited page reads, with Black Nab alone topping 5 million.
North’s storytelling blends “twists and turns that keep you guessing” with authentic characters and a strong sense of place.
One reviewer called it “as addictive as anything by Ann Cleeves,” while another said, “Ely North is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.” Perfect for fans of Dervla McTiernan, Peter Robinson, and Joy Ellis.
Ely North’s novels offer crime fiction with atmosphere, dark secrets, and the occasional laugh in the face of murder.
The DCI Finnegan series is set to continue for many more books to come.
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