Lies and Desperate Measures

Set in 1914 England, Lies and Desperate Measures follows Police Constable Matthew Stannard after he breaks the unspoken code of loyalty within the force by informing on a fellow officer. Branded a traitor by most of his colleagues, Matthew becomes the target of a calculated campaign of revenge that threatens not only his career, but his freedom. The novella examines police corruption, institutional silence and the cost of choosing justice over loyalty, maintaining a dark, realistic, non-cosy tone throughout.

This story is ideal for readers who enjoy:

  • British crime fiction examining police corruption
  • Realistic police procedurals
  • Gritty, non-cosy stories about loyalty and betrayal
  • Character-driven crime fiction with escalating personal stakes
  • Historical or early twentieth-century settings grounded in realism
  • Short reads that expand a larger fictional world