Water has always played a key role in human society. But could it have been the major environmental pressure that drove human evolution? Dr Alec Whickham thinks so, and when he finds the remains of a human ancestor on the shores of Lake Turkana in Kenya it's a dream come true. But not everyone shares his excitement at the find and soon a murder mystery overtakes the archaeology team's investigations. Now the team and the police have a more immediate puzzle to solve, and they need to do it quickly, before someone else dies. Academic rivalry is a powerful motivator, but could it really lead to the crime of murder? Detective Inspector Elaine Kelly is catapulted into a world of suspicion, intrigue and fierce debate as she tries to unravel the case. She is helped by Dr Joseph Connor, an experienced academic with a questioning mind. But the questions he tries to answer in this case could get him killed.

E.J.Kay's debut novel is a compelling crime thriller that weaves together the stories of two murders separated by more than a million years. Murder evolves.

Review

"Apart from the inimitable Sherlock Holmes stories, crime fiction would not be my genre of choice. However, this murder mystery contains a plethora of fascinating facts on the science of human evolution and the controversies that exist both within the competitive world of academia and beyond. The scientific facts appear to have been well researched and are presented in such an accessible way and through a cast of believable characters as to make the book a real page turner. Having decided to read a few pages this morning before I went out I found I couldn't put it down and got nothing done until the book was finished. An easy but enjoyable read that gives plenty to mull over afterwards."