Minotaur Books, 2015.
Review published Jan 2017.
Detective Sargeant Jane Bennet, a member of the London police, is working the first investigation for which she is in charge. It's a scary business, involving victims left to die underground in a lightless grave-like space. Her boss Mike Lockyer has just returned from leave, distracted and upset because of his failure in their previous case; another associate has recently retired but has now gone missing. Jane tries her best to cope, while worrying about her own son, an autistic 8-year-old being cared for by her mother (who fortunately is a loving and competent grandma).
The case seems to be connected to the psychology department at the local university, involving research (not all of which has been authorized by the University) into taphaphobia, which is the abnormal fear of being buried alive, or pronounced dead while still living. This is a new word for me -- although I remember reading that Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science, had installed a phone in her coffin just in case.
Jane and Lockyer, with support from their team, carry out their investigation as we follow along. The plot is wonderfully complicated, although this reader is still suspicious of the camera's ability to film as described. The characters are sympathetic and very human, even to the degree that they suffer injuries at times.
This looks to be a series well worth following; it is her second book and she shows every sign of wanting to continue.