Justice has a sharp edge—and someone’s swinging.

In Axe to Grind, A. L. Fraine introduces readers to DCI Pilgrim, a determined, no-nonsense detective caught in a brutal game of cat and mouse with a killer who doesn’t just want to punish… they want to make a statement. The weapon? An axe. The victims? Carefully chosen. The message? Carved into flesh and bone.

When a wealthy businessman is found gruesomely murdered in his countryside mansion, the brutality of the crime shocks even the most seasoned officers. As DCI Pilgrim takes over the case, it quickly becomes clear that this isn’t just about greed or revenge—this killer has a list and a mission.

As Pilgrim and his team dig into the victim’s past, they uncover ties to corporate scandals, political corruption, and people who will go to any lengths to keep their sins buried. But the killer is always one step ahead, forcing Pilgrim to think not just like a cop, but like a predator.

With a chilling mix of forensic detail, gritty dialogue, and moral tension, Axe to Grind plunges readers into the dark corners of justice and vengeance. As the body count rises, so does the pressure—and Pilgrim must face the one question every detective dreads: what if the killer isn’t entirely wrong?

Now available as a Free pdf download on Bookdio, this pulse-pounding free books download is a must-read for fans of British crime fiction, complex cases, and detectives with their own demons.