The Wrong Man - June 2026 Crime Collective

About the book

A new PI. A dead rockstar. A tangled web of secrets.

When Ethan Adler set up his new PI agency in central Manchester, he wasn’t expecting his first case to be so high profile – investigating the mysterious death of rock star Dylan Vy.

Ethan has been avoiding the spotlight ever since his beloved wife Maggie’s untimely passing. His grief has been complicated by rumours that Maggie was pregnant with another man’s child at the time of her fatal accident. And because said accident took place just hours after Ethan won the lottery, a cloud of suspicion has followed Ethan ever since.

With the help of his assistant Amelia, Ethan throws himself into uncovering the truth about Dylan Vy. In a fast-escalating investigation, they uncover a labyrinth of secrets, lies and deadly connections between bandmates, girlfriends and a volatile manager. And when Dylan's unreleased music is leaked on the dark web, speculation swirls that the lyrics contain hidden clues that might lead to the killer. But who leaked these songs, and what is their secret motive? In the midst of a media frenzy and a storm of fan conspiracy theories, who can Ethan trust?

As Ethan digs deeper, he must also confront his own demons ― the lingering questions about Maggie’s death and the growing realisation that those closest to him may have played a role…

PRAISE FOR THE WRONG MAN

'The Wrong Man is everything you want in a British private investigator novel. It's fun and fast-paced with a plot that never lets up.' M W Craven

'Chris McDonald’s multi-millionaire, Skoda-driving, suspected-of-wife-murdering private eye Ethan Adler is a breath of fresh air … A slice of contemporary PI noir to delight fans of the genre.' Vaseem Khan

'I absolutely loved The Wrong Man. Pacy and addictive, with wonderfully realised characters and a genius central premise, I ripped through it in a day. An expertly told rock and roll murder mystery set in Manchester? Hook it to my veins now…' Adam Simcox

'Chris McDonald rocks! Music, mayhem and murder in Manchester – what’s not to like? … The Wrong Man is heading to the top charts – with a bullet!' Trevor Wood

'It’s fun, twisty, and a fab start to a brilliant new series!' Sam Holland

'The menacing streets of Manchester rub shoulders with rockstar glamour as danger lurks at every turn.' Natalie Chandler