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Strange Beginnings
A Cold Case Murder Mystery Series
Series: The Freeman Files
Brief Description
In the shadows of Wiltshire, a dark truth waits to be uncovered. Marion Reeves seemed to lead an ordinary life until her brutal murder in 2011. Stabbed in her car on a busy industrial estate, her case baffled detectives and was left unsolved. Years later, Gus...
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Strange Beginnings
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See moreA murdered wife and mother. A double identity. Detective Inspector Gus Freeman reopens the cold case of a woman brutally slaughtered in her car, unearthing blackmail, missing evidence, and connections to powerful men with dangerous ties. As the truth unravels, Freeman must risk everything to expose a killer who isn't finished. The lies in her past will shatter everything
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Description
In the shadows of Wiltshire, a dark truth waits to be uncovered. Marion Reeves seemed to lead an ordinary life until her brutal murder in 2011. Stabbed in her car on a busy industrial estate, her case baffled detectives and was left unsolved. Years later, Gus Freeman and his team are determined to find the truth.
As they follow the trail, they uncover startling revelations about Marion's double life—a history of troubled relationships, a blackmail plot, and ties to a shadowy group known for its dangerous and scandalous exploits. Missing money and gaps in the evidence deepen the mystery, leading the team into a labyrinth of lies, betrayal, and unanswered questions.
Was Marion silenced to protect a dark secret, or was her death a tragic consequence of a dangerous liaison? Strange Beginnings is a chilling cold-case mystery that explores hidden lives, dark secrets, and the relentless pursuit of justice.
Praise for Strange Beginnings:
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Wonderfully written.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ This book was exceptional, with a great ending that I couldn't see coming.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ You'll never want to put it down.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Excellent.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ What a story.
Series: The Freeman Files
View all-
Fatal Decision
He thought he'd left his life as a detective behind. But the past has a deadly way of catching up. Three years after losing his wife, retired DI Gus Freeman is drawn back into the force to lead a new cold case unit. His first investigation: the brutal murder of Daphne Tolliver, a widow killed during her morning walk through...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
A Genuine Mistake
Was it a tragic accident, or a calculated murder? When Gerry Hogan was murdered on his doorstep, his family and friends were left reeling. A successful businessman with a spotless reputation, his death seemed both shocking and senseless. Years later, when Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team reopen the case, they uncover more questions than answers. Missing clues and...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
All Things Bright
The truth is hidden beneath the surface. Will Gus Freeman find it? When thirteen-year-old Stacey Read disappeared from her Wiltshire home, the small community was torn apart. Ten days later, her lifeless body was found in a canal, but the case went cold. Now, retired detective Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team are determined to bring the truth to...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
A Morning Murder
A missing colleague. A team in crisis. And a case that refuses to stay buried. Burnham-on-Sea is supposed to be a quiet stop for Gus Freeman's team to wrap up a cold case, but the investigation soon spirals into a dark web of interconnected crimes. As they dig deeper into the murders of Tammie Kenyon and Imogen Henderson, Gus uncovers...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
A Normal November
What lies beneath the surface of an ordinary November night? In November 2016, Richard Chaloner's life was brutally cut short. A respected garage owner and newlywed, he was gunned down in what appeared to be a tragic robbery. The case went cold, leaving unanswered questions and a killer still at large. Now, years later, Gus Freeman and his Crime Review...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Barking Mad
A cold case. A deadly secret. The search for answers begins. In May 2015, Mark Malone, a much-loved pet shop owner, was shot dead in cold blood. The case went unsolved, leaving his community shattered and his murder shrouded in mystery. Years later, Detective Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team reopen the investigation, determined to bring his killer to...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Buried Secrets
A deadly run, a life of lies and a web of secrets waiting to unravel. When Alan Duncan is murdered during his weekly run, Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team face one of their most challenging cases yet. Alan's relationship with his girlfriend, Maddy Mills, seemed perfect on the surface, but as the team digs deeper, they uncover troubling...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Creature Discomforts
A family that won't talk. A detective who won't give up. Grant Burnside, the ruthless leader of a violent gang, was gunned down in 2014, but his murder remains unsolved. Detective Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team take on the case, determined to crack the secrets surrounding the Burnside family. Now under the leadership of Grant's son, Gary, the...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Deadly Formula
One bullet, countless secrets, and a formula that could destroy everything. Fourteen years ago, brilliant research scientist Dr. Ian McGuire was murdered in his home with a single shotgun blast. The investigation stalled with no leads, no suspects, and no motive. Now Detective Gus Freeman and his team are uncovering the shocking truth behind McGuire's death. At the heart of...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Dead Reckoning
A farm, a murder and a trail that leads to dark truths. Wealthy landowner Kendal Guthrie was no stranger to controversy. Found dead in suspicious circumstances on his remote farm, his death was dismissed as a tragic accident. But years later, Gus Freeman and his team discover evidence that paints a very different picture. With motives ranging from revenge to...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Final Deal
A team member kidnapped and a cold case that refuses to stay buried. When DI Suzie Ferris vanishes after a cyber-crime course, Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team face a formidable adversary—a ruthless former undercover officer, Ricky Gardiner, entangled in a web of corruption. As the team digs deeper, they unearth sinister connections within the police force to a...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Gathering Clouds
A double murder haunts a city—and one man pursues the solution. The brutal murders of John Crees and Mandy Howard shattered the peace of Salisbury, but the case has remained unsolved for years. Now, Detective Gus Freeman, who once served in the city, has returned to uncover the truth. But as Freeman digs deeper, he faces mounting resistance from those...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781036704995
Publisher: Vinci Books
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 17 July 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Vinci Books
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 300g
Pages: 272
About the Author
Ted Tayler is the international best-selling indie author of the Freeman Files and Phoenix series. Ted lives in the English West country, where his stories are based. He was born in 1945 and has been married to Lynne since 1971. They have three children and four grandchildren. His thought-provoking mysteries appeal to readers of Sally Rigby, Joy Ellis, Pauline Rowson, and Faith Martin. His action-packed thrillers are a must for fans of Mark Dawson and J C Ryan. Gus Freeman's cold case investigations are carried out with reasoned deduction rather than bursts of frantic action. In each of the 24 books, unsolved murders are accompanied by romance, humour, and country life. The core message in the 12 Phoenix novels is that criminals should pay for their crimes. Unfortunately, the current system fails to deliver the correct punishment, so Phoenix helps redress the balance.
Also by Ted Tayler
View all-
Fatal Decision
He thought he'd left his life as a detective behind. But the past has a deadly way of catching up. Three years after losing his wife, retired DI Gus Freeman is drawn back into the force to lead a new cold case unit. His first investigation: the brutal murder of Daphne Tolliver, a widow killed during her morning walk through...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
A Genuine Mistake
Was it a tragic accident, or a calculated murder? When Gerry Hogan was murdered on his doorstep, his family and friends were left reeling. A successful businessman with a spotless reputation, his death seemed both shocking and senseless. Years later, when Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team reopen the case, they uncover more questions than answers. Missing clues and...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
All Things Bright
The truth is hidden beneath the surface. Will Gus Freeman find it? When thirteen-year-old Stacey Read disappeared from her Wiltshire home, the small community was torn apart. Ten days later, her lifeless body was found in a canal, but the case went cold. Now, retired detective Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team are determined to bring the truth to...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
A Morning Murder
A missing colleague. A team in crisis. And a case that refuses to stay buried. Burnham-on-Sea is supposed to be a quiet stop for Gus Freeman's team to wrap up a cold case, but the investigation soon spirals into a dark web of interconnected crimes. As they dig deeper into the murders of Tammie Kenyon and Imogen Henderson, Gus uncovers...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
A Normal November
What lies beneath the surface of an ordinary November night? In November 2016, Richard Chaloner's life was brutally cut short. A respected garage owner and newlywed, he was gunned down in what appeared to be a tragic robbery. The case went cold, leaving unanswered questions and a killer still at large. Now, years later, Gus Freeman and his Crime Review...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Barking Mad
A cold case. A deadly secret. The search for answers begins. In May 2015, Mark Malone, a much-loved pet shop owner, was shot dead in cold blood. The case went unsolved, leaving his community shattered and his murder shrouded in mystery. Years later, Detective Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team reopen the investigation, determined to bring his killer to...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Buried Secrets
A deadly run, a life of lies and a web of secrets waiting to unravel. When Alan Duncan is murdered during his weekly run, Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team face one of their most challenging cases yet. Alan's relationship with his girlfriend, Maddy Mills, seemed perfect on the surface, but as the team digs deeper, they uncover troubling...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Creature Discomforts
A family that won't talk. A detective who won't give up. Grant Burnside, the ruthless leader of a violent gang, was gunned down in 2014, but his murder remains unsolved. Detective Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team take on the case, determined to crack the secrets surrounding the Burnside family. Now under the leadership of Grant's son, Gary, the...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Deadly Formula
One bullet, countless secrets, and a formula that could destroy everything. Fourteen years ago, brilliant research scientist Dr. Ian McGuire was murdered in his home with a single shotgun blast. The investigation stalled with no leads, no suspects, and no motive. Now Detective Gus Freeman and his team are uncovering the shocking truth behind McGuire's death. At the heart of...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Dead Reckoning
A farm, a murder and a trail that leads to dark truths. Wealthy landowner Kendal Guthrie was no stranger to controversy. Found dead in suspicious circumstances on his remote farm, his death was dismissed as a tragic accident. But years later, Gus Freeman and his team discover evidence that paints a very different picture. With motives ranging from revenge to...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Final Deal
A team member kidnapped and a cold case that refuses to stay buried. When DI Suzie Ferris vanishes after a cyber-crime course, Gus Freeman and his Crime Review Team face a formidable adversary—a ruthless former undercover officer, Ricky Gardiner, entangled in a web of corruption. As the team digs deeper, they unearth sinister connections within the police force to a...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks -
Gathering Clouds
A double murder haunts a city—and one man pursues the solution. The brutal murders of John Crees and Mandy Howard shattered the peace of Salisbury, but the case has remained unsolved for years. Now, Detective Gus Freeman, who once served in the city, has returned to uncover the truth. But as Freeman digs deeper, he faces mounting resistance from those...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableAvailableShips in 4-6 weeks
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