The Darkest Tide

**A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SUMMER BOOKS OF 2026 PICK**

'A deeply atmospheric tale' The Times

'A race against time, in every sense. A beautifully written crime thriller set against an atmospheric Brighton backdrop' Elly Griffiths

Arthur Cotton is losing his once sharp mind to dementia. But when a body washes up on Brighton beach, fragments of his dangerous past begin to surface. Fifty years ago, he kept the books - and the secrets - of Brighton's criminal underworld. Retirement came with one rule: to keep his mouth shut.

Susan Cotton thought she knew her father. She was wrong.

Now, old enemies are paying attention to Arthur. And Susan's busy yet predictable life caring for others - her elderly patients, her adult daughter Ruby - is about to unravel.

To protect Arthur, Susan must turn detective and discover a Brighton she barely recognises. A city of gangsters, hidden violence and explosive lies, with every revelation pulling her family closer to danger.

Taking the reader from the smoky nightclubs of 1960s Brighton to the bustling tourist city of today, The Darkest Tide is a gripping thriller about family, memory and the deadly cost of long-buried secrets.

'A compelling mystery with a breathtaking twist - an irresistible slice of Brighton noir' M.J. Arlidge

'Hanington's vivid depiction of Brighton - from 1960s ganglands to modern streets - is paired with sharp characterisation and suspenseful plotting to create an exploration of memory, regret and the heavy cost of buried truths' Woman

'This is crime fiction at its best: the evocative setting, page-turning pace and cleverly woven plot' Charlotte Philby