Outside the White Lines

Don’t drive at night. Don’t drive alone. And if you break down, do not open the door to anyone.

There’s a serial killer on the roads masquerading as a breakdown rescue driver. Prowling the motorways after sunset, even he doesn’t know where and when his next murder will be. But when he does strike, it is with terrifying brutality.

Andy, a young recruit to the traffic police, is intent on hunting The Killer down. After the third victim is found, he believes he’s seen something crucial - but his partner won’t believe him. Andy's obsession with finding The Killer leads him down a dark path, and he becomes increasingly alienated from his fellow officers.


The Searcher is an outcast from society; lonely and misunderstood, he unwittingly links Andy and The Killer through his bizarre nocturnal activities.

As the police fail in their search for The Killer and the murders grow increasingly savage, Andy is determined to bring them to a halt. The actions he takes bring all three men together in a truly shocking finale.

Chris Simms: nominated for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year and CWA Daggers!

Praise for Chris Simms’ novels

'One of the genre’s all-time great debuts.'
Lee Child

'A gritty, suspense-filled first novel. . . here is a new crime writer who really knows his stuff – a compulsive and compelling read.’
(Publishing News)

‘Simms’ fresh approach, and the way the story weaves between three viewpoints, makes this one of the most promising debuts in crime for some time. From the prologue’s brutal first pages to the satisfying crunch of the final chapter, the prose is spare, lean and mean.’
(City Life)

‘Anyone reading this will do so in one sitting…Simms is really a name to watch out for.’
(Deadly Pleasures Magazine, 4.5 stars out of 5: ‘A potential classic’.)

‘Simms has written a gritty novel that grips from start to finish. I just couldn’t put it down.’ (Horroscope)

‘After many years of reviewing crime fiction, it’s not often my jaded nerves get actually, physically jangled.’

(Morning Star)

Some Amazon reader reviews

“A very well written book that gets you hooked from the beginning.” ★★★★★

“A gripping story, very violent and menacing, characters are believable and although you knew 'who dunit' I couldn't put it down.” ★★★★★

“Loved the way the action rotated between the three main characters, very cleverly written story that keeps the reader guessing until the final pages.” ★★★★★

“It is well-written and gripping. I shall certainly be looking for more books by Chris Simms.” ★★★★★

About the Author

Chris Simms has worked in airports, nightclubs, post offices and telesales centres. After travelling around the world he settled near Manchester - where he now scribbles away in a cosy garden shed with a dainty little lurcher lying at his feet.

Along with nominations for the Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year award and Crime Writers’ Association Daggers (for his novels and short stories), Chris was selected by Waterstone’s as one of the