Book excerpt: A dead baby. A missing mother. A cradle of secrets. From the author of the Scott and Bailey series, Quiet Acts of Violence is a novel about family and betrayal, injustice and poverty, the ties that bind and those that break us. __________ Has the woman killed her child? Is she at risk to herself? Someone in the neighbourhood of old terraced streets has the answers. But detectives Donna Bell and Jade Bradshaw find lies and obstruction at every turn, in a community living on the edge, ground down by austerity and no hope. A place of broken dreams. Of desperation. And murder. When a stranger crashes into Jade's life, her past comes hurtling back, threatening to destroy her and the world she has carved out for herself. Donna struggles to juggle everything: work, marriage, kids. It's a precarious balancing act, and the rug is about to be pulled from under her. ___________ Praise for Cath Staincliffe: 'A star in the firmament of British crime fiction' Big Issue in the North 'Writing that gives Britcrime its heart, mind and soul' Literary Review 'Sensitive and humane' The Guardian 'Staincliffe writes brilliantly and compassionately about things that matter' Literary Review 'Compassionate, exciting and down-to-earth. Infused also with that rare and precious ingredient: true feeling' Literary Review 'Such a good writer' Marcel Berlins, The Times 'Unique in British crime fiction: truthful, affirmative and exciting. Planted in the real world and looking good on it' Literary Review 'The most grown-up writer in British crime fiction' Jake Kerridge, The Telegraph 'Harrowing and humane' Ian Rankin