Description: First Edition Thus. Hardcover. Signed by Author. Fine / Fine. 8vo. Deluxe limited edition. Number 18 of an exceptionally small run of only 85 copies printed. Signed by Reginald Hill directly onto the limitation page. Features an exclusive introductory appreciation written by American mystery writer Walter Satterthwait. Elegantly bound in the publisher's original quarter-leather over fine marbled paper boards. Spine features bright gilt lettering. Issued without a traditional paper dust wrapper, this rare edition features the original clear protective acetate jacket. Condition: A spectacular, investment-grade copy. The leather spine is immaculate, perfectly vibrant, and completely free of rubbing or edge wear. The marbled boards are clean, brightly coloured, and square with razor-sharp corners. The internal pages are crisp, white, and entirely free of foxing, toning, or previous owner marks. The author's signature is bold and distinct. The clear acetate jacket is in pristine condition, showing no splits, chips, or surface scuffing. A flawless, collection-defining copy of the 15th Dalziel and Pascoe mystery. Synopsis: While attending a tense animal rights demonstration at a heavily guarded pharmaceutical research facility, Peter Pascoe's sharp eyes track a fleeing protester deep into the dense canopy of the adjacent woods. Instead of an activist, he uncovers a macabre secret: human skeletal remains that have lain hidden beneath the soil for decades. The grim discovery catapults Andy Dalziel into an investigation that unearths a dark, forgotten chapter of World War I military history, intricately linking the modern pharmaceutical firm to the tragic fate of a local battalion. As the detectives unpick a tapestry of historical injustice, corporate greed, and long-silenced family trauma, they discover that some historical secrets are fiercely protected by ancestors who will kill to keep them buried.