Death in Wiltshire

Detective Craig Wild #3

by Derek Thompson

Wiltshire is a county of ancient beauty — rolling chalk downs, wooded valleys and chocolate-box villages. Famous for its ‘big’ skies and breathtaking scenery, it seems tranquil. But looks can be deceiving.

Katarina Raslova, a young British archaeologist, is found dead in a secluded cabin on a powerful local landowner’s estate. Her body has been carefully posed.

She looks like an exquisite sculpture. Except for the bruises circling her neck.

The only potential witness is a terrified girl who waited at the scene for the police to arrive . . . then vanished without a trace.

Detective Craig Wild, formerly of the Metropolitan police, is called in to investigate. He quickly discovers there’s no shortage of suspects. An obsessive ex-boyfriend with no alibi. The landowner’s evasive son, who knows more than he’s telling. And someone on the estate is growing something far more deadly than wheat.

Even his own partner, Acting DC Marnie Olsen, has a troubling personal connection to the victim.

Wild is determined to crack the case — and quickly. But this is rural Wiltshire, not inner-city London. Here, everyone knows your business, and miles of countryside offer countless places to hide the truth.

And then another young woman’s body is discovered . . .

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 16, 2026

About the author

Derek is a British author of novels and short fiction.

The Complete Thomas Bladen Spy Thrillers boxset, published by Joffe Books, comprises: STANDPOINT, LINE OF SIGHT, CAUSE & EFFECT, SHADOW STATE, and FLASHPOINT.

Book 6, PATHFINDER, is by Sixpence Publishing.

DS Wild Crime Mysteries published by Joffe Books:
1. LONG SHADOWS
2. WEST COUNTRY MURDER
3. DEATH IN WILTSHIRE

INTO THE VOID is a collection of short fiction by Sixpence Publishing.

Reviews

THOMAS BLADEN SPY THRILLERS
"Realistic rather than glitzy. This story did not disappoint with its gritty detail and credible characters. Kept me hooked right to the end. Great writing!" VC

DS WILD CRIME MYSTERIES
"...Slid down like a beer at the end of a hard day... engaging and entertaining story that kept me in suspense. A good balance of male & female characters, well written and believable." Helenmx5

Reviews

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

DS Craig Wild is a Londoner who until recently was a copper at the Met. A serious of unfortunate incidents ended his tenure there. He is lucky to have a second chance out in Wiltshire but he is a fish out of water in so many way. Wrong footed from the start, he is called in to investigate the murder of an archeologist who is involved in a dig on an estate, Everything about him seems to jar his female DI. Craig tries very hard to be PC but when another DS, a very ambitious woman on an upward trajectory, arrives things become more and more difficult. And that is before the body count starts to rise.

Craig has been known and continues to be known to use the rules as suggestions but in most cases, no one can dispute his keen eye and canny intelligence. He sees things that others miss and while he often butts his head against a brick wall, the others often find he was right in his instincts. And when he finally figures out the pieces, the killer changes the game to one that is deadly serious for both Craig and others.

He is an interesting character with lots of flaws and baggage. He would probably drive any superior crazy with his tactics but he is the man you want in the clutch. Five purrs and two paws up.

[Gillian Cawte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good plot; Contrived, Hard to Follow Writing Style

Death in Wiltshire by Derek Thompson is about a series of murders being investigated by a team of detectives based in Wiltshire. The lead investigator, D S Craig Wild, has recently moved to this beautiful rural area from the Metropolitan Police in London. His Partner, Acting DC Marnie Olson, unfortunately is personally connected to one of the victims.
The plot is nicely thought out and flows with satisfactorily unexpected developments through to the very last nail-biting page. This reader’s problem with this book is that I found the writing style very contrived which made it difficult to follow the flow of the story. The chapters are liberally peppered with unnecessary trivia and spurious descriptions are inserted into each page.
If you like this style of writing, then the book has a good plot. I did not personally enjoy this read.

[Eda Štrāla · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC read*

I am unsure how I had missed Detective Craig Wild’s existance for books 1 & 2, however, I can guarantee that it’s 100% enjoyable if you first join him in book 3 (like me).
It’s a wonderful story for the fans of Agatha Christie, I felt safe and cozy reading but the book was able to capture my attention well. It was fascinating to see the world through a man’s eyes.
The guilty party was a mystery to me up until 1 page before it was revealed so ‘good job’ there. We all know that one annoying person that always guesses the murderer right away and is correct. Hello, that person is usually me 👋🏻 Not this time 😅
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for giving me a copy. Off to now get my claws on book 1 & 2 ❤️

[Rustic_Reads_ Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I loved the contrast between the cosy, picturesque Wiltshire setting and the darker storyline underneath. It gave me that “quiet village with big secrets” vibe, which I always find so addictive in crime reads.

I found DS Craig Wild really easy to connect with, especially as he’s adjusting to life away from London. Watching him navigate both the case and his new surroundings made the story feel more personal, which I liked.

The plot kept me guessing the whole way through- every time I thought I had it figured out, something else shifted. It’s one of those books that’s easy to get lost in, and I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how it all unfolded.

I’d definitely recommend this if you enjoy crime mysteries with a strong setting, plenty of suspects, and that slightly darker edge beneath a calm surface.

[Layla Penfold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series ‘Detective Craig Wild Mysteries’.
I don’t know the back story of the character Craig, this is my first read from this author. These can be read as standalones.
I absolutely loved this book, Wiltshire plays a huge part in my heart, it’s the main reason why I wanted to read it.
I like Wild a lot, he’s very old school and likes to break an occasional rule.
I loved Marnie, I did really feel for her though with the case etc.
This is a fantastic mystery crime story, with a great team who works hard to make this case complete.
I will look forward to reading the other two books in the series.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gripping crime thriller with revelations and plenty of twists.
I thoroughly enjoyed the well written storyline and plot, with strong, interesting characters.
I was captured from the beginning into a book that keeps you guessing, and it has good descriptive .I loved the way the story built into quite a mystery and murder which despite my suspicions, hadn't a clue who the finger was pointing to.
Although part of a series, this book could be read as a standalone.
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy. This is my honest and unbiased review
of this book.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in a series which I did not realize. I haven't read any of the other bills which I think made it slightly difficult to fully understand some of the characters. Wild’s rebellious personality was a lot of fun to read.

The plot is complex with lots of twists and turns. There were a lot of characters with ‘history’ so you need to read the rest of the series. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read the rest of the series but that is on me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

[Phil Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping 3rd installment to the Craig Wild series. Easily read as a standalone.
Former Met officer thought life would be dull in sleepy Wiltshire but he was wrong. A
young archaeologist’s body is discovered close to the dig on a wealthy landowners
estate. The only witness has disappeared and the girls body appears to have been
posed in a ritualistic way. Wilds partner, DC Marnie Olsen, reveals that she once knew
the victim and several likely suspects are quickly revealed each with a strong motive.
The body count climbs with the discovery of another victim and the pressure is on Craig
and his team to crack the case . An intriguing and twisty mystery ensues

[Christine Harman · Rating 5 out of 5]

D'S Craig Wild is based on Wiltshire. After the death of an archaeologist the team gets caught up in mystery after mystery and have to investigate multiple crime scenes. A flawed police officer with a mixed bag for his fellow officers leads to some interesting interactions which leave one wanting to scream at them. Fast paced but never predictable the action keeps coming, culminating in an unexpected outcome. I recommend this book, although it does leave me wondering about his previous placement.
With thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crime thriller read that blends the thrill of the chase with an insight into the characters on the police team.
I haven’t read the other books in the series (this is book 3) but I don’t think it spoilt my enjoyment of this read although I will read the previous ones as I want to know more about Craig and Marnie.
This read had lots is suspicious characters but as the tension built I couldn’t put it down.
An enjoyable police procedural crime thriller with lots of twists along the way.

[Teri Donaldson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author. I instantly liked the lead character, Detective Craig Wild. He is flawed, makes up his own rules and gets the job done. This book provided many twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. I easily read this as a standalone, but I’m now going back to read the first two books in the series. Finding more out about Detective Wild intrigues me.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! It has that classic “quiet village hiding big secrets” vibe which I always find so addictive in crime reads.

The setting plays such a strong role — that contrast between the peaceful countryside and the darker mystery underneath works so well and keeps the tension simmering throughout.

DS Craig Wild is also a really likeable lead. I liked how grounded he felt, especially as he’s adjusting to life away from London — it added a more personal layer alongside the investigation.

And the pacing?! Just when I thought we were heading towards the resolution (around halfway through), a twist came in and completely knocked everything on its head. I did NOT expect it and it definitely kept me hooked to see how it would all unfold from there.

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death in Wiltshire by Derek Thompson.
Detective Craig Wild book 3.
I'm really enjoying this series. I love the cover and blurb of this book. I listened to this book. I love Craig. especially how he is. I did like Marnie. I didn't like Creegan at all. This was a gripping and twisty read. It certainly wasn't who I thought it was. I was very surprised. I certainly didn't see that coming. I did like the ending. I do hope there is more to come.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

It Kept Me Guessing

A young archaeologist, Katarina Raslova is found murdered, and a potential witness has disappeared. DS Craig Wild is on the case, but it seems that although there are many suspects, no one is talking. Then another body is found. Everything seems to point towards someone from the Ellis Estate being involved, or is this just another red herring? There were so many twists and turns, the book kept me guessing all the way through.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read the first books in this series, but it made no difference, this works well as a standalone. A very good book, full of twists and turns, not to mention a few bodies. Well worth a read

[Karolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here is my review for Death In Wiltshire by Derek Thompson

I totally enjoyed this twisty and gripping British crime mystery which is set in Wiltshire. DS Craig Wild has transferred from the Met to Mayberry and is working with DC Marnie Olsen. They attend the scene of a murdered young woman, Katarina Raslova, who is a British archaeologist and she was found in a secluded cabin on the Ellis Estate, a local powerful landowner. It would appear that her body has been carefully posed. DC Olsen knows Katarina and was the person to identify her body at the scene before collecting DS Wild. This was a brilliantly written story that drew me in right from the very start of the book. I really liked both DS Craig Wild and DC Marnie Olsen who seemed to work quite well together. They seemed to be part of a small team working with DI Marsh. There were a few intriguing characters in this story who were well described, had their own agendas and played their parts well. It was a terrific crime mystery with a lot of detailed information. I believe the author did some research before writing this story and it shows in the information contained in the book. It was a superb plot and extremely well thought out. I was hooked by this gripping British crime mystery and I found it very hard to put my kindle down. This is the first book in the series that I have read although it's book three. I would love to read the other books in this series.

Blurb :

Wiltshire is a county of ancient beauty — rolling chalk downs, wooded valleys and chocolate-box villages. Famous for its ‘big’ skies and breathtaking scenery, it seems tranquil. But looks can be deceiving.

Katarina Raslova, a young British archaeologist, is found dead in a secluded cabin on a powerful local landowner’s estate. Her body has been carefully posed.

She looks like an exquisite sculpture. Except for the bruises circling her neck.

The only potential witness is a terrified girl who waited at the scene for the police to arrive . . . then vanished without a trace.

Detective Craig Wild, formerly of the Metropolitan police, is called in to investigate. He quickly discovers there’s no shortage of suspects. An obsessive ex-boyfriend with no alibi. The landowner’s evasive son, who knows more than he’s telling. And someone on the estate is growing something far more deadly than wheat.

Even his own partner, Acting DC Marnie Olsen, has a troubling personal connection to the victim.

Wild is determined to crack the case — and quickly. But this is rural Wiltshire, not inner-city London. Here, everyone knows your business, and miles of countryside offer countless places to hide the truth.

And then another young woman’s body is discovered . . .

A gripping British crime thriller full of twists and turns, dark crimes — and a detective with a relentless drive for justice. Perfect for fans of Joy Ellis, L.J. Ross, Angela Marson, J.D. Kirk and Biba Pearce.

Meet The Detective
Detective Craig Wild is a former Metropolitan Police officer who finds himself trading city streets for the English countryside. The move isn’t entirely by choice, but he’s determined to prove himself. He’s a good copper who trusts his instincts and gets results, even if his blunt manner sometimes puts him at odds with colleagues and superiors. But his partnership with promising young copper Marnie Olsen proves a turning point. Together, they make a formidable team — and the country lanes and close-knit villages of rural Wiltshire will put them to the test.

The setting
Wild’s police station is in Mayberry, a quiet Wiltshire market town surrounded by ancient woodland, sprawling estates and working farmland. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows your business — and criminals have miles of rural wilderness to hide in. For Detective Wild, it’s a culture shock: a world away from the anonymity and pace of city policing, where reputations stick, secrets run deep, and fitting in can be as challenging as solving the crimes.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Archaeologist Katarina Raslova is found asphyxiated in an office cabin in the woods of an estate rumoured to have Saxon remains. The building had been set alight although her body was untouched apart from the obvious signs of how she was killed.
Was it a violent ex-boyfriend who is turns out was working nearby? The strange entitled son of the estate owners with plenty to hide? One of his friends at the gathering that night? The young female witness who reported the crime then disappeared when police officers arrived? Who was it she saw by the cabin? Are there clues on Kat’s missing laptop and phone? The case is further complicated by the fact that Acting DC Marnie Olson knew the victim previously. Marnie and DS Craig Wild, DI Morag Marsh and DC Harris stationed at Mayberry in Wiltshire, investigate the murder. And in the middle of all this, Craig’s ex-wife is rearing her head again, just when he is reconnecting with vicar Jane Houghton who is also looking for a missing young woman. And then another body is discovered.
Wild is not so much of an unknown quantity at Mayberry after his past history in London as the team get to know him better. A clever, inciteful and dedicated officer, he has certainly made a good friend in Marnie who clearly looks up to him and is even growing on DI Marsh, although he still has his own way of doing things at times. The team of detectives all bring their own strengths and talents to the investigation into a dark and twisty complex murder plot in a story which is well written and very easy to become absorbed in. Wild is certainly growing on me too after now three books in the series and I do hope there will be more to come.

[Roroblu'sMum · Rating 2 out of 5]

2* This poor author feels like a 'we've got to publish him, but don't really want to stand by him' author from Joffe Books.

I used to get ARCs by Joffe Books but I suspect they don't like critique, as they've been rejecting all my recent requests. I've been harsh at times but also pretty fulsome where praise/feedback was warranted. This book was a free-to-read-now tale, and I can see why.

There's really nothing to recommend here. There's alluded-to stuff with a DI who holds the lead character's - so unmemorable that I've forgotten his name - puppet strings, the reasons for which don't get revealed beyond brief allusions about events that made him have to leave The Met. Just silencing looks. I got tired reading about his unexplained exile from The Met and his not liking Wiltshire.

The thing with the lady vicar was pointless. The thinking by his young sidekick about whether single vicars are allowed to have sex was archaic. The plethora of potential baddies wasn't believable. The red herrings were repetitive and poor. The lead was boring, and he seemed to think so himself. The tale was bogged down in far too many weeds that a good editor should've, well, weeded out. The actual eureka! moment about a not-believable baddie was...not believable. Nor was his demise.

Not a good effort, not a good show by Joffe Books towards this author.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archaeologist Katarina’s body is found in a burnt out cabin but the fire didn’t kill her: she was already dead...
Death in Wiltshire is the 3rd book in DS Craig Wild series but the first that I have read. The book does contain some names and identifying characteristics of past cases but I'm not sure if these are from the earlier books or from further back in his career.
Craig is a bit of a maverick but dedicated to the job. His antics cause tension as he doesn’t always play by the rules but I did really like him as a character.
His latest case is the death of an archaeologist Katarina and it turns out she was known to his colleague Marnie. This puts extra pressure on the team as they want to help their colleague find her friend's killer but are also slightly distrustful of her. There are lots of suspects and Wild puts a lot of noses out of joint during his investigation.
I felt that the ending and culprit explanation was a bit far fetched and was definitely not guessable.
Death in Wiltshire is an enjoyable police procedural with a great lead character.

[Sandra Vdplaats · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is both a new series and a new author for me.

Katarina Raslova, who worked as an archaeologist and travelled all over the world, looses her life in a fire. There is an eyewitness to the whole incident who claims to have seen the 'lord of fire' before, but shortly afterwards the eyewitness vanishes into thin air.

DC Marnie met ‘Kat’ during a summer dig and they kept in touch afterwards, she is shocked by her death and the fact that her vital witness has gone awol...

At first, I had difficulty engaging with the story. My aging brain found it challenging to keep track of the various characters and protagonists, and this confusion persisted until halfway.

I found the plot very gripping and loved the engaging writing style, and loved the interaction of DC Marnie with the others of the team. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and will certainly read the earlier installments.

3+ stars, thank you Joffe for the review copy. 🌷

[Coco · Rating 3 out of 5]

3* Craig Wild mystery series, book three.

An excellent plot, the final quarter almost made up for my earlier confusion.

DS Craig Wild is enjoying a competitive game of darts, when his partner, acting DC Marnie Olsen, arrives and interrupts his evening with the news of the discovery of a woman's body. When a second body is found, DS Creegan is brought in from a neighbouring police station to head the investigation of both murders. Due to Creegan's constant unpleasantness, Craig's murder squad no longer works as a team. Instead of displaying her usual good leadership, Senior Officer, DI Marsh ignores Creegan's bad behaviour.

While reading Death in Wiltshire I had difficulty identifying and placing the characters, or I didn't know who was talking. Re-reading for clarification resulted in interrupting the flow of the plot. Even with my bewilderment regarding recognising certain characters, it's a good read, so I intend continuing with the series as books 1 and 2 were absolute page turners.

[Sally Winsor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disgraced police sergeant Craig Wild, moved from The Met to the wilds of Wiltshire, is called in to investigate the death of an archaeologist found dead in a partially burned out cabin on a Wiltshire estate. With a flakey witness who subsequently disappeared and the landowner’s son, who is less than helpful, Craig has his work cut out for him. When another body turns up, the investigation gets even more complex.
I enjoyed this book. Even though I haven’t read the first two books in the series, there was enough backstory to mostly make sense of the characters relationships, which makes for a reasonable standalone. The action was fast paced enough to keep the reader enthralled and detailed enough to keep the mind working, trying to solve the mystery. I definitely recommend this one to any fans of gritty police procedurals.

[Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The death of a renowned archeologist along with the disappearance of the main witness and the appearance of the Fire God leaves the police baffled- and me too for a while. Initially I had trouble engaging with the book and wondered if it was because I hadn’t read the first two in the series. But I think it’s just that there are so many characters , most of whom seem rather dodgy, that it requires some concentration to work out who is linked to whom. The 2 main police characters are strong though and bind the action together. Eventually,I really enjoyed the plot and loved how many times I was led astray in my belief I had worked out the culprit. It is definitely more convoluted than you think!! I would recommend starting to read this when you have time to really get into it and you will enjoy it and be less confused!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

An action packed who dunnit which is the 3rd in the series of Detective Craig Wild series.
I had not read the previous books and feel I would have benefited if I had as I found it difficult to get a feel for the main cast at the Mayberry Police Station. Detective Wild moved to the station under a cloud from the Met, and tends to do things his way rather than by the book and is not the most popular at the station.
We begin the story with the death of a young archaeologist at a dig in the grounds of a stately home. With spotlight on the family, DC Wild uncovers more dodgy deeds and ruffles many feathers, including those of his boss.
Once you get into the flow of the writing style which I found a bit disjointed, the book gets you in and keeps you hooked right to the unexpected conclusion.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wild By Name, Wild By Nature!
In this fantastic third instalment Wild breaks every rule to deliver justice and he won't stop until he does.
When archaeologist Katarina is discovered dead in a burnt-out cabin near her dig site, the investigation begins. With loyal Marnie by his side, Wild skirts around protocol, forever in trouble with DI Marsh, to relentlessly seek justice, dealing with multiple suspects and frustrating dead ends. As the body count and the stakes rise, the tension builds.
I loved seeing Marnie gain in confidence with this book. With interesting, well-defined, relatable characters and a spectacular ending tied up neatly, this is a must-read for fans of police procedurals with grit and emotional depth.
My thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC. This is my own opinion.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Zooloo's Book Tours.

This book is part of a series featuring Detective Craig Wild as the protagonist. He's looking into the death of a young woman, and it seems that the victim was known to one of his colleagues.

I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series, but I didn't feel as though I'd missed anything. I liked Craig as a character and I enjoyed the way he interacted with some of the other characters, like Marnie and Jane.

The book had a cosy vibe, enhanced by its Wiltshire setting, and it kept me turning the pages. I haven't read many police procedural books recently, so I quite enjoyed it.

Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was actually my first Detective Craig Wild mystery and it didn’t matter one jot!

It can easily be read as a standalone as the characters are self explanatory and even the “so why is he here and not at the MET” gets explained within the story.

I’m not sure his rule breaking exploits would be gotten away with in the British Constabulary but why waste a great plot device as a bit of a rogue although it does make him come across as a throwback to the 60s and 70s of TV policing rather than someone whose not quite of that age.

A fun read with plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages. I will be going back for more.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the third in Derek Thompson’s series featuring Detective Sergeant Craig Wild, but it read very well as a stand alone story.

It is a complex and interesting multi faceted set of investigations which are inter linked and which the police are finding themselves in some difficulty understanding what has happened and how and why it has happened. The narrative begins with the death of a female victim and the plot thickens with numerous twists and turns.

Despite the body count and the somewhat gruesome events, it is enjoyable, the characterisations of particularly the police personnel are good, and the novel is recommended.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in the DS Craig Wild series is the best to date, with it's intricate, dark plotting and a host of brilliant characters. When the body of a young archaeologist is discovered on a rural estate, Craig is relentless in his pursuit of justice for the deceased, along with acting DC Marnie Olsen. There are plenty of twists, red herrings and a whole lot of tension in this steady paced mystery and it's an easy 5* from me. I can highly recommend to lovers of crime thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first I have read in the series but it worked fine. There are snippets thrown in referring to earlier cases to give you enough of a background.

I really liked the rural setting and how Wild just does his own thing causing issues with his DI although poor Marnie is dragged along mostly at the same time. However Marnie really stood out for me here as you can see her confidence slowly growing throughout. I was not sure who the killer was and the reveal was a total surprise in an exciting finale. I look forward to seeing what comes next for this duo.