Press release Step into the Criminal Underworld of 1920's London in Foul Trade from BK Duncan April 7, 2025

A city in turmoil. A coroner’s officer with everything to prove. Will the truth survive the shadows of post-war London?

London, April 2025 – dp books is delighted to announce the signing of BK Duncan and the upcoming release of Foul Trade, the first gripping novel in the May Keaps series.

Set in the aftermath of World War I, Foul Trade introduces readers to May Keaps, a determined coroner’s officer in London’s East End. As the city struggles to recover from war, crime flourishes in the shadows. When a routine case takes a dark turn, May is drawn into a dangerous web of corruption, secrets, and betrayal—one that could cost her everything.

Rich in historical detail and packed with suspense, Foul Trade brings 1920s London vividly to life. “The era has an irresistible pull for me. It was a time of unprecedented loss and discovery, change and upheaval, political posturing and broken promises,” Duncan explains. “And, over a century on, I try to honour the people who lived through those dark times in my fiction.”

Duncan’s meticulous research and immersive storytelling set Foul Trade apart, informed by maps, industry catalogues, oral histories and photographs. “How long did all this research take me? Months, and months, and months. It seemed there was no end to Poplar’s hidden secrets.”

For fans of Jacqueline Winspear and Anne Perry, Foul Trade is an unmissable historical crime novel.

Foul Trade is now available for preorder on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited, with the official release set for 17th April. We can’t wait for you to step into May Keaps’ world!

Want to learn more about BK Duncan and the May Keaps series? Click here to discover the newest member of the dp family!