How long does it take to make a murderer?

For sixteen years, the Midwinter Butcher has stalked the edges of Oxford—leaving behind ritualistic animal killings on the anniversary of DI Joseph Stone’s greatest loss. A reminder. A warning. And a case that has consumed him.

Now living alone on a narrowboat, isolated and out of favour with his superiors, Joseph is running out of time—and out of chances. When he’s paired with the determined DC Megan Taylor, the two detectives begin to uncover a pattern far darker than either of them expected. The killings aren’t random. And they aren’t finished.

As the investigation closes in, the stakes turn brutally personal. With Joseph’s daughter in danger, the line between duty and obsession begins to blur—and the cost of failure becomes unthinkable.

Narrated with quiet intensity by Patrick FitzSymons, The Dead of Midwinter is a dark, atmospheric British crime thriller set in the heart of Oxford. Tense, character-driven, and deeply unsettling, it’s the gripping first instalment in the DI Joseph Stone series.

Perfect for listeners who enjoy brooding detectives, slow-burning tension, and psychological depth.

"Twisty, tangled, and totally addictive. I'm hooked!" —T.G. Reid

"Sinister, exciting, J.R. Sinclair has it all!" —J.E. Mayhew