A Detective's Dilemma – A Tom Kessler Operation – Book 1

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Detective Constable Tom Kessler has spent his career hunting drug dealers, liars, and violent men. But nothing prepares him for John Falstead, a ruthless crime boss who threatens Tom’s wife and children after a surveillance job goes catastrophically wrong.

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When Tom realises he can’t protect his family through the system, he turns to the last man anyone would expect: Pete Johnson, a sharp‑witted cocaine dealer with a talent for survival and a grudge of his own. Tom should arrest him. Instead, he warns him. And in that single decision, an unlikely alliance is born.

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Pete becomes Tom’s covert informant—smart, disciplined, and far more loyal than anyone on the squad would ever believe. Together, they navigate a world of encrypted phones, Irish suppliers, violent enforcers, and the constant threat of discovery. Every move brings them closer to Falstead… and closer to disaster.

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As the pressure builds, Tom must juggle a failing marriage, a damaged memory from a near‑fatal crash, and a team who can never know the truth. Pete must stay alive long enough to deliver the evidence that will bring Falstead down.

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But in the shadows of Surrey the backstreets of Holyhead and Dublin, one mistake means death….. For both of them.

Perfect for readers who enjoy Stephen Leather, Lee Child, Mick Herron, and gritty British crime thrillers with real-world authenticity.