The Darkest Tide
On sale
29th January 2026
Price: £24.99
‘A compelling mystery with a breathtaking twist – an irresistible slice of Brighton noir’
M.J. Arlidge, bestselling author of Into the Fire
‘A race against time, in every sense. A beautifully written crime thriller set against an atmospheric Brighton backdrop’ Elly Griffiths, bestselling author of The Killing Time
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.
M.J. Arlidge, bestselling author of Into the Fire
‘A race against time, in every sense. A beautifully written crime thriller set against an atmospheric Brighton backdrop’ Elly Griffiths, bestselling author of The Killing Time
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.
Reviews
Praise for Peter Hanington--
Hanington has true talent
Peter Hanington has a journalist's nose for stories
This adrenaline-laced adventure packs a mighty punch.
Smart and topical.
Thoughtful, atmospheric, and grippingly plotted.
A compelling, fast-paced thriller.
A race against time, in every sense. A beautifully written crime thriller set against an atmospheric Brighton backdrop
A compelling mystery with a breathtaking twist - an irresistible slice of Brighton noir.
As with all the best crime writers, Peter Hanington shines a light into the darkest corners of society, throwing into relief both the shadow and the light. This is crime fiction at its best: the evocative setting, page-turning pace and cleverly woven plot. But what stands out for me here are the characters who, even at their most brutal and flawed, are always human, and always utterly believable
