Murder on an abandoned housing development—and a web of dark secrets stretching back decades…

Looking for clues about her sister’s death amid the crumbling decay of a derelict and near-deserted London neighbourhood, urban explorer Connie Darke makes a terrifying discovery: William Stark, the estate’s architect and long-time resident, is hanging from the church’s vaulted ceiling.

For DI Lew Kirby, there’s no doubt that Stark was lured to his death—but who wanted him dead, and why? As Connie begins a covert investigation, desperate to find a connection to her sister, Kirby soon discovers that the remaining residents have something to hide.

Could there be a connection between Stark’s death and the unsolved case of Kevin Shires, a boy who went missing from the estate decades ago? And with Kirby and Connie both digging into the long-buried history of the estate’s darkest corners, what other secrets will be unearthed from the ruins of Grasmere?

“A cleverly constructed plot that kept me guessing from the moment urban explorer Connie Darke discovers a grisly murder. The atmosphere of disused, abandoned urban buildings and the people who drift through or feel compelled to linger in them is conveyed superbly.” —Jo Leevers, author of Tell Me How This Ends

“Old sins cast very long shadows in this absorbing tale of the secrets that lie within a condemned housing estate. S W Kane weaves the threads together so cleverly with a conclusion that packs a terrifying punch. Just brilliant!” —Marion Todd, author of the DI Clare Mackay crime series

“Daring and gripping, The Drowning Place drags you into darkest corners both literal and figurative, leaving you gasping and enraptured. A unique, standout addition to crime fiction’s top table.” —Rob Parker, author of The Thirty Miles Trilogy