Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In Bitter Chill | 2015 | Sarah Ward | Buy |
| 2 | A Deadly Thaw | 2016 | Sarah Ward | Buy |
| 3 | A Patient Fury | 2017 | Sarah Ward | Buy |
| 4 | The Shrouded Path | 2018 | Sarah Ward | Buy |
The DC Connie Childs series established Sarah Ward as a voice in British crime fiction. Starting with In Bitter Chill, the four novels follow Connie Childs as she investigates cases that often reach back years or decades, uncovering secrets that communities have worked hard to keep buried.
The Derbyshire Peak District setting is central to the series, providing both beauty and isolation that heighten the tension. Ward writes police procedurals that reward patient readers — her mysteries unfold through careful investigation rather than dramatic set pieces, with solutions that grow organically from character and place.