So, let’s talk about The Wood.
Spoiler alert – if you haven’t read the DI Zoe Finch series, set in Birmingham, this will reveal some details. You have been warned!
If you’ve been following DI Zoe Finch’s journey in Birmingham and Cumbria, you’ll know her relationship with David Randle is complicated. And you’ll probably have your own views on Randle. I know I do!
When we first met Randle back in the DI Zoe Finch series, he was her boss in Birmingham – and not a good kind of boss. Randle is corrupt, dangerous, and ruthless. Zoe spends most of her time trying to work out how much she can trust him while quietly building a case against him. It’s tense, messy, and exhausting for her. So, when Randle went into hiding and Zoe left Birmingham behind for Cumbria, she thought she’d get a break from all that.
But no.
After moving to Cumbria, Zoe started to get anonymous phone calls. And eventually she discovered that they were from Randle. Who’s still in hiding, but with connections to Myron Carter, the man Zoe is investigating. Connections that might just help Zoe.
And in The Wood, Zoe’s new life is thrown into chaos when she finds herself working with Randle again. The man who nearly destroyed her career, not to mention her faith in the criminal justice system.
But now the stakes are even higher. They’re not just dealing with murders and missing persons (though there’s plenty of that). They’re up against organised crime, corruption, and some seriously shady dealings. Randle is as slippery as ever, and Zoe’s partner Carl is angry that she’s been letting Randle in without telling him.
Zoe knows what Randle’s capable of, but he knows how to push her buttons. Every conversation crackles with tension, every decision feels like a power struggle. But despite everything, they have to work together.
And then there’s Carl.
Zoe and Carl only met because he was sent to Birmingham as an undercover Professional Standards officer to investigate corruption and root out people like Randle. Zoe didn’t find out what his real job was for a while, by which time she’d fallen in love with him. In Cumbria, Zoe is in CID and Carl is still in PSD. Which has led to tensions of its own.
Zoe’s decision to team up with Randle in The Wood isn’t something she can easily explain. Watching Zoe forced to work alongside Randle is hard for Carl, especially when it dredges up all the things Zoe’s tried to leave behind.
The tension spills over into their relationship, creating cracks Zoe doesn’t have the time or energy to fix. And that’s the hardest part. Zoe’s job has always been demanding, but Randle makes it personal. The past Zoe thought she’d left behind is now threatening the life she’s built with Carl.
One of the things Joel and I loved exploring in The Wood is how Zoe navigates these murky waters. She’s trying to solve a case, protect her new team, and keep Randle from dragging her into his mess, all while dealing with the emotional fallout at home. Or rather, hoping it’ll go away.
The book isn’t just about solving a crime (or quite a few of them). It’s about the ripple effects of corruption, the cost of doing the right thing, and whether people like David Randle can ever really change. And it’s about Zoe and Carl – will they fight for their relationship when everything is pushing them apart?
If you’ve read the DI Zoe Finch books, you’ll recognise the tension between Zoe and Randle, but you’ll also see a new side to their relationship. In Cumbria, the stakes are different, and so are they. Zoe’s stronger now, more sure of herself. And Randle? Well, he’s still Randle, but he’s had time to think about what he’s done. The question is, does he want to atone?
So, if you’re ready for a tense, twisty crime thriller with plenty of personal challenges, read The Wood. Find out if Zoe can navigate relationship tension, hold her team together, and solve the biggest case she’s ever taken on.
