Part of Inspector Lynley, book 2
First published 2007
Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley arrives at an isolated Scottish estate to find playwright Joy Sinclair dead, an eighteen-inch dirk driven through her neck. Working outside their usual jurisdiction, Lynley and his partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers face a web of theatrical personalities with secrets to hide. The suspect list grows to include Britain's leading actress, a powerful theatrical producer, and the woman Lynley loves. Each interview reveals deeper motives rooted in past betrayals and professional rivalries. Lynley must navigate his personal feelings while Havers pushes for objective investigation. The case forces them through layers of deception among people who make their living creating illusions. The murder connects to old wounds and hidden relationships that shaped the victim's career and personal life.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation
Setting: Scotland
Period: 20th-century
413 pages · Paperback · Bantam