Murder in Edinburgh

(Detective Hunter Wilson Mysteries Book 1)

By Val Penny

Publication Date: 13th May 2026

Publisher: Joffe Books

Page Length: 338 Pages

Genre: Scottish Crime Fiction

‘A thrilling series begins — and beneath the action lies a tragedy that cuts deep.’ Caro Ramsay

Discover an addictive Scottish crime thriller set on the streets of Edinburgh . . .

A woman’s body is found in a shallow grave on the edge of an exclusive Edinburgh golf course. The victim bears the signs of a brutal struggle: blows to the body, marks around her throat, knees scraped raw as she fought to escape.

But there is no name. No phone. No one reported missing.

Detective Hunter Wilson is summoned from his regular darts night to take the call. Two decades on the force, he’s seen plenty. But this one gets under his skin from the start.

Then a pregnant teenager is mown down on Comiston Road — and Hunter realises this killer isn’t finished.

In a city where everyone knows everyone else, there’s a killer hiding in plain sight. And it’s up to Hunter to uncover the truth before they strike again.

MEET THE DETECTIVE:

Hunter Wilson is ‘a son of the manse’ as they say in Scotland. He has inherited his church minister father’s strong Scottish work ethic, and his deep sense of right and wrong. He is divorced from the mother of his two children, and lives in a two-bedroomed flat in Leith, a modest Edinburgh suburb. He rarely sees his daughter, Alison, who lives with her husband and two children in the Shetland Islands. His son, Cameron, is a troubled young man who has given Hunter cause for concern over the years. Hunter is secretly in love with Dr Meera Sharma, the local pathologist. Their heavy work schedules means their tentative relationship is fraught with difficulties.

THE SETTING

Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Tourists flock to admire its historic castle, elegant Georgian terraces, smoky pubs and ancient closes. But beneath the picture-postcard beauty lies a darker side, where murder can hide in plain sight.

Praise

‘Hunter Wilson is a compelling new detective and Val Penny is an author to watch.’

Erin Kelly, bestselling author of Broadchurch.

‘A taut police procedural that is up there with Ian Rankin, Alex Gray and Quintin Jardine.’

Michael Jecks, bestselling author

Pick up your copy of

Murder in Edinburgh

HERE.

Val Penny

Val Penny has an Llb degree from the University of Edinburgh and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer but has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store.

Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories, nonfiction books, and novels. Her novels are published by SpellBound Books Ltd.

Val is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and their cat.

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