by J. J. Marric
Part of Gideon, book 4
First published 1974
Inspector Gideon settles into his chair on a bright May morning, expecting the pleasant weather to bring a rare stretch of calm to his London beat. The sun streams through his office window as he reviews routine paperwork, savoring what feels like the first quiet moment in months. His relief proves short-lived. Within hours, reports flood in from across the city. Multiple incidents demand his immediate attention, each more urgent than the last. Gideon finds himself racing from scene to scene, coordinating his team as they tackle a mounting wave of criminal activity. The inspector's careful plans dissolve under the pressure of simultaneous investigations. What began as a tranquil spring day transforms into a complex puzzle that tests every skill Gideon has developed over his long career. As cases multiply and intersect in unexpected ways, he must navigate the competing demands of justice, procedure, and time. The peaceful May morning becomes a distant memory as Gideon confronts the relentless pace of police work in a bustling metropolis.
Genres: fiction, 20th-century, mystery, crime, detective, police
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigation, multiple-storylines
Setting: London
Period: May
192 pages · Paperback · Hodder & Stoughton: Coronet Books