Sticks and Stones is the sixth book in the popular DS Coupland series.

A consultant is accused of killing his patients…A local MP has murdered a call girl… A teacher ploughs a minibus into a group of pupils…It's as though Salford is under a permanent full moon, not helped by the fact DS Kevin Coupland is fighting to hold onto his career. Following an allegation that he was behind a prisoner's murder in HMP Manchester, Coupland enlists the help of the one man everyone is certain has set him up - Kieran Tunney, a notorious crime boss already under investigation. When Coupland reviews several cases he suspects they are linked, in a way he cannot believe is possible. If his suspicions are correct then he must act fast to stop the unthinkable from happening - even if that means putting himself in the firing line.