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Fatal Decision
A Cold Case Murder Mystery Series
Series: The Freeman Files
Brief Description
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:...
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September 2026
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Fatal Decision
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Description
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 the seemingly peaceful Wiltshire woods.
As Freeman and his team peel back layers of small-town secrets, they discover a web of hidden relationships and festering grudges. But the deeper they dig, the more dangerous their investigation becomes.
With the killer still at large and watching their every move, Freeman must confront not only a cunning adversary but the demons of his own past—before another life is claimed.
In this picturesque town, every silence has a story—and not everyone wants the truth revealed.
Fatal Decision is a gripping addition to the Freeman Files Series.
★★★★★ This book is full of mystery and intrigue. I really enjoyed reading it.
★★★★★ If Tayler writes it, I read it.
★★★★★ This author is not just a writer but a great storyteller.
★★★★★ A magnificent story that kept this reader turning the pages.
★★★★★ I look forward to reading other cases for Freeman.
★★★★★ I already know that I will be reading all 20 in this series!
★★★★★ Carefully crafted procedural with quirky characters.
Series: The Freeman Files
View all-
Pre-orderFatal 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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781036704872
Publisher: Vinci Books
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 17 July 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Vinci Books
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 18.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 0g
Pages: 240
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-
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
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 /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
Pre-order
Into The Sunlight
Her life ended in fire. Her story is buried in ashes. When Danute Zukas, a young Lithuanian woman, is found beaten and burned in a Wiltshire ditch, the horrific crime is left unsolved. Years later, Gus Freeman's Crime Review Team takes on the cold case, determined to uncover the truth. As they dig deeper, the team stumbles upon unsettling connections—human...Paperback$2799Unit price /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order
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