A Body in the Forest: a gripping Welsh crime mystery full of twists

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Love the characters & stories, and feel like I have been to Wales!' Nancy

Detective Norman is out of retirement and back on the beat in a rainy Welsh seaside town. Llangwelli might be short on sunshine, but it's certainly not short on murders . . . Norman may seem a bit old-fashioned, but he's always willing to learn from his band of misfit recruits.

A body in the forest. An ancient pagan ritual. A baffling mystery.

On Halloween night, the body of a young woman is discovered buried in a shallow grave in the Dragon Forest, a popular local beauty spot. The only clue to her identity is the number 37 tattooed on the sole of her foot.

Detective Norman's new boss, Acting Superintendent Evans, is convinced the murder is connected to a group of pagans who were performing a secret ritual in the forest that night.

Norman's not so sure. The one thing he does know is that he'd make much faster progress without the insufferable Evans breathing down his neck.

Something is off about this case. Norman knows he's missing something important - but he can't seem to see the wood for the trees.

Then the discovery of a second body in the woods turns everything on its head.

This absolutely gripping detective mystery full of twists and turns is perfect for fans of J.D. Kirk, Reginald Hill, Stuart Pawson, J. R. Ellis, Roger Silverwood, and Simon McCleave.

READERS LOVE A BODY IN THE FOREST:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Another cracker . . . A tense and surprising story worthy of a binge read.' Phil R.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fantastic read. The ending will leave you desperately hoping the old team are back for another instalment soon. I, for one, can't wait!' Diane T.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'One of the best contemporary British police procedural series . . . A thrilling and satisfying crime novel that has more twists and turns than a country road.' Tabby S.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Plenty of suspects and red herrings . . . If you like authors like Rachel Mclean, J. D. Kirk or Simon McCleave, you'll probably enjoy the works of P.F. Ford. I know I do.' Denise Z.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'P.F. Ford is a brilliant writer . . . A joy to read.' J.D.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'More twists than a funfair twister.' Coco

THE DETECTIVE

Meet DS Norman Norman. He's so good they named him twice. He thought his policing days were over when he took early retirement. But then he gets called into Llangwelli Police Department to help train up the new recruits. Out on the west coast of Wales, the town is known as something of a dumping ground for screw-ups, but Norman believes no copper's career is ever beyond salvaging, so he's going to whip these youngsters into shape. Even if it kills him.

THE SETTING

Llangwelli (pronounced Hlangwelly) is a seaside harbour town in West Wales that sits on the edge of a wide, shallow river estuary. Thanks to West Wales's rainy climate, verdant green hills dotted with cows and sheep make for idyllic surroundings. But that doesn't mean it's free from crime - as Norman is about to find out.

Author: P. F. Ford
Publisher: Joffe Books Ltd
Published: 10/21/2025
Pages: 276
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.61lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.62d
ISBN: 9781805733041

About the Author
Ford, P. F.: - Peter Ford always dreamed of becoming a writer, but a dream is easily stifled without support from those around you. It was only when his old, unhappy life fell apart and he met his new partner (now wife) Mary, who believed dreamers should be encouraged, that he finally got the chance to live that dream. Fast forward a few years and you find a man transformed. Now, blissfully happy, settled in a quiet corner of Wales with wife Mary and their rescue dogs, P.F. Ford is living proof that it's never too late to achieve your dreams.