by P. D. James
First published 1998
Commander Adam Dalgliesh arrives at Larksoken, a Norfolk coastal community dominated by a nuclear power station, expecting only to handle his deceased aunt's affairs. The remote headland appears peaceful, but terror grips the residents. A serial killer called the Whistler stalks the neighborhood, spreading fear through methodical murders. As Dalgliesh becomes involved with the local residents, he discovers that the Whistler represents only part of the danger. Another killer operates in the power station's shadow, turning what should have been a simple family obligation into a complex investigation. The detective finds himself entangled in the lives of people whose secrets run deeper than the official investigation suggests. Multiple murderers work simultaneously in this isolated community, each with different motives and methods. Dalgliesh must navigate between his personal grief and professional instincts while the body count rises around him.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation
Setting: Larksoken, Norfolk
Period: 20th-century
3 pages · Audio Cassette · BBC Worldwide
Content warnings: murder, violence