A body is discovered in the reedbeds of the Newport Wetlands.
At first glance, it appears to be a tragic and unusual death. But investigative journalist Gareth Rhys quickly notices something that doesn’t fit - a strange wound unlike anything local police have encountered before.
For Gareth, who has spent decades uncovering the hidden crimes operating beneath rural life in South Wales, instinct matters. And his instincts tell him this death is only the beginning.
As questions spread across Newport and the villages of the Gwent Levels, Gareth finds himself drawn into a world few people ever see, one where exotic wildlife is bought and sold through hidden networks, dangerous animals vanish into the illegal pet trade, and quiet businesses conceal far darker activities beneath the surface.
Working uneasily alongside Acting Detective Inspector Sara Llewellyn, Gareth follows a trail that leads from pet shops and isolated farms to bonded warehouses, abandoned buildings, and whispered rumours moving through rural communities. The deeper he digs, the clearer it becomes that powerful people have invested heavily in keeping certain truths hidden.
But Gareth is not the only one under pressure.
In the village of Nash, elderly wildlife rescuer Bethan “Draenog” has begun facing intimidation designed to force her from her home beside the wetlands she has spent a lifetime protecting. Around her, tensions over land, money, and development are beginning to boil over, exposing long-standing divisions beneath the quiet surface of village life.
As the investigation gathers momentum, Gareth must navigate a dangerous landscape where organised crime, local loyalties, and hidden violence collide, and where asking the wrong questions can have deadly consequences.
Set against the haunting beauty of the South Wales coast and the windswept Gwent Levels, this atmospheric crime thriller combines investigative journalism, rural noir, and environmental crime into a gripping mystery filled with tension, danger, and richly drawn characters.
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
- Atmospheric British crime fiction
- Investigative mystery thrillers
- Rural noir and Welsh crime novels
- Slow-burning suspense with strong sense of place
- Wildlife and environmental crime stories
- Character-driven mysteries with realistic investigative detail
The Gareth Rhys Investigates series follows an experienced Welsh journalist uncovering the hidden crimes operating beneath ordinary rural life - where silence, money, and power often matter more than truth.