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Dead Signal: A Cal Ruan Thriller — Conspiracy, Staged Deaths, and High-Stakes Crime
A two-second transmission.
A man taken alive.
A warning someone wants buried.
A man taken alive.
A warning someone wants buried.
★★★★★ “A superb plot full of explosive action!”
★★★★★ “What a great start! Can’t wait for more!”
During a violent storm on the Cornish coast, a tech CEO attempts one last encrypted broadcast — proof of corruption powerful enough to kill for silence. He never finishes it. A four-man team takes him alive and wipes the site clean.
Only a dying fragment of the signal escapes.
It’s intercepted by Cal Ruan — former military intelligence, now an NCA officer being quietly pushed aside. He recognises the pattern instantly. It links to a classified operation he was never meant to survive.
Ruan breaks protocol and goes off-book.
What follows is a trail of staged deaths, vanished whistleblowers, and a regeneration project laundering millions. At its centre is a rising local politician. Behind him is a network that doesn’t threaten — it erases.
When an investigative journalist crosses Ruan’s path, they form a dangerous alliance. The police can’t be trusted. The NCA may already be compromised. And once Ruan acts on the signal, there’s no way back.
Dead Signal is a gritty, fast-moving British crime thriller packed with tactical action and a conspiracy that escalates far beyond Cornwall. Perfect for fans of Simon Kernick, Lee Child, Mark Dawson, and Mick Herron.
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by Martin Rose
For many years, I have been a massive fan of Solomon Carter. Whether it be PI’s Dan Bradley and Eva Roberts do DI Joe Hogarth and his team (including Acting DI Sue Palmer). Now, January 2026 introduces us to new characters Cal Ruan and Mara. Dead Signal is a masterpiece and takes Solomon’s writing to another level. Action packed with an order arching story. I love it and I know you will to. A new dawn has arrived, enjoy the ride.
by Dukey
What a great start to the new trilogy. Love the new characters and can’t wait for more. An absorbing read as always from this author.
by Dave M.
A new year and new characters for a new thriller series.
Meet Cal Ruan and Mara.
Two quite unlikely characters in so many ways, one with a military background, the other a journalist.
On the surface they are like “Chalk and Cheese” but in this case, they discover that they are more like “Peas in a Pod”.
Cornwall, that sleepy holiday destination in the SW of England becomes the hot bed and centre for a huge threat to National security.
The deeper they look, the more they unearth, and it’s not good.
Corruption is everywhere and there’s nobody to trust.
Without giving the plot away, and spoiling the read for you, it’s a new venture for Solomon in a new direction and it’s worked incredibly well.
The first in a trilogy, it had me hooked very quickly and the characters are unlike any others in Solomons many books.
I would urge you to read this, as you will not be disappointed. In fact, I think you will be as hooked on Cal and Mara as I am.
A superb plot full of explosive action.
by Kindle Customer
Good to roam around Cornwall and meet some new characters. Recommended to all Solomon Carter fans.