As the creator of such television hits as Widows and Prime Suspect, Lynda La Plante is best known for her TV scripts but she can still punch above her weight in the novel-writing corner.

For evidence, just settle down with a copy of her latest offering. But be prepared to set aside a few hours at a time in a comfy armchair - because this book will soon have you firmly in its clutches.

The Red Dahlia sees the return of DI Anna Travis, who was introduced to readers in the best-selling Above Suspicion.

Reunited with her mentor, the unpredictable Chief Inspector James Langton, Anna is soon using her considerable skills in pursuit of an evil copycat murderer.

The Black Dahlia was the name given to the most notorious, unsolved murder in US history, back in the 1940s, and when the horribly mutilated body of a young woman is found dumped on the banks of the River Thames, it soon becomes clear that the latter-day killer is using the earlier crime as his template.

But there are no suspects, and the press is becoming more and more insistent that the details of the death should be shared with the general public.

Then just as the pressure hits boiling point, a second body is found, with the former model's death again mirroring the notorious Black Dahlia case. Can Travis and Langton catch the mysterious killer before he strikes for a third time?

One to keep you guessing to the end.

  • Sandra Dyson