Part of Inspector Lynley, book 22
First published 2025
Michael Lobb lies dead on the floor of his family's tin and pewter workshop in Cornwall. A representative from Cornwall EcoMining discovered the body, the same company desperate to buy the land that Michael, as majority owner, refused to sell. Inspector Beatrice Hannaford arrives to find a web of family tensions and bitter relationships surrounding the victim. Michael's recent marriage to Kayla, a woman half his age, now leaves her a young widow. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers join the investigation, but they face a community already suspicious of outsiders and wary of trust. As the detectives dig deeper, they must navigate local hostilities while uncovering which of Michael's many conflicts led to murder. The case forces them to examine how personal betrayals and business pressures collide in a place where everyone has secrets.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, outsider-perspective
Setting: Cornwall, Cornwall EcoMining
656 pages · Hardcover · Viking