Meet the special agents who last week launched an investigation into murder, prostitution and police corruption.

They helped Keighley author Lesley Horton as she revealed the gory details of her heroes' latest big case.

Lesley read the opening chapter of her second novel, On Dangerous Ground, during a launch party at Keighley's Reids bookshop.

Lesley's first novel Snares of Guilt, published last summer, sold more than expected and received a second print run.

The story of murder and racial tension became a bestseller in Germany after being chosen as a "book of the month".

It was also translated into Dutch -- with the setting changed from Bradford to London -- and received what Lesley calls a "brilliant" review in New York.

Lesley says: "The second book has just been sold to the German publisher. The first one sold like hot cakes -- apparently our crime novels do well over there."

Lesley has been commissioned to write a new novel each year featuring her police characters Det Insp Handford and Sgt Khalid Ali.

She is currently writing her third book Devils in the Mirror, which begins with a teenage girl being found dead on Devil's Altar above Bingley. The book's deadline had to be postponed after a trapped nerve in Lesley's shoulder stopped her writing for three months.

She says: "It's going quite well now -- I'm pleased with it. But it was hard to get going again, and get the passion back into it."

Lesley says that as a former teacher she definitely feels passionate about the subject matter: professionals coming under suspicion.

Her fictional victim had previously accused her teacher of sexual assault, and even though the man was acquitted in court his school launched its own inquiry.

Lesley is continuing to write the book every day, despite a busy schedule of promotional appearances around the country for On Dangerous Ground.

This second novel focuses on the controversial subject of child prostitution and the authorities' refusal to admit it exists.

A serial killer is loose in Bradford and a senior police officer comes under suspicion after his photo is found in a victim's purse.

On Dangerous Ground, published by Orion, costs £17.99 in hardback and £10.99 in trade paperback. It is reviewed on page 38 of this week's Keighley News.