Persons Unknown

A Novel

By: Susie Steiner

Narrated by: Juanita McMahon

In this brilliant crime novel from the author of Missing, Presumed, a detective investigates her most personal case yet: a high-profile murder in which her own family falls under suspicion.

“[Susie] Steiner populates this hot-button narrative with achingly human characters, but no one compares to the hormonal, mordantly funny mom-cop who will stop at nothing to save her son.”—People (Book of the Week)

As dusk falls, a young man staggers through a park, far from home, bleeding from a stab wound. He dies where he falls, cradled by a stranger, a woman’s name on his lips in his last seconds of life.

Detective Manon Bradshaw handles only cold cases. Five months pregnant, in pursuit of a work-life balance rather than romantic love, she’s focused on being a good mother to her two children: her adopted twelve-year-old son, Fly Dent, and the new baby.

But the man died just yards from the police station where she works, so Manon can’t help taking an interest. And as she sidles in on the briefing she learns that the victim, a banker from London worth millions, is more closely linked to her than she could have imagined. When the case begins to circle in on Manon’s home and her family, she finds herself pitted against the colleagues she once held dear: Davy Walker and Harriet Harper.

Can Manon separate what she knows about the people she loves from the suspicion hanging over them? Can she investigate the evidence just as she would with any other case? Persons Unknown shows acclaimed author Susie Steiner writing her most intricate, suspenseful novel yet.

Praise for Persons Unknown

“A police procedural as concerned with the mysteries of human hearts as with who stabbed a banker to death at a park in Cambridgeshire. [Full of] winning prose, sympathetic characters and an appreciation of life’s joys as keen as a knowledge of its dangers.”—The Wall Street Journal

“Susie Steiner blends the police procedural and the human drama perfectly.”—The Charlotte Observer

“[Steiner] has created a masterful mystery within an engaging narrative perfect for Kate Atkinson fans. Readers will be astonished by the unexpected turns at the conclusion, which will leave fans eagerly awaiting the next book. This series needs to be snapped up by the BBC or PBS.”—Booklist (starred review)

“[An] engrossing stunner, incorporating social justice issues into the narrative, along with superb plotting, dark humor, and excellent characterizations.”—Library Journal (starred review)

I love Manon!

And I'm already looking forward to the next in the series, not so much for the plotting, but for the characters. The narration was outstanding!

Excellent series

I love these books, only sorry there are only three. A little bit much towards the end with the motherhood stuff but otherwise so so good. Highly recommend it.

Does not disappoint!

Having read Missing, Presumed, I was overjoyed to discover that Ms Steiner had a new book out. READ or Listen to her books. If you are a fan of British police procedural, this will blow you away! The characters and plot are stunning! I can't wait for her next one!

Such a Keeper! Great Story and GREAT Narration!

Thirty minutes into this book I knew I was so hooked that I would not want to stop listening when the time came. It was so good that I decided to forgo watching the Olympics just to keep listening to this charming, at-times-funny, detective story. And I am so glad I did. It offers so many profound perspectives on life -- for those who are single and those who are long married. Those with kids and those without. Those who LOVE police procedurals and those for whom those stories are just "meh." The publishers description tells you all you need to know before you start. Just go ahead and start.

Delightful procedural plus

Wonderful characters, funny narrative, plot complicated but understandable. Entirety satisfying. Susie Steiner has created a series that deserves a high place in everybody's mystery shelf.