by P. D. James
First published 2008
Commander Adam Dalgliesh arrives at Cheverell Manor, where wealthy patients recover from cosmetic procedures under the care of renowned plastic surgeon George Chandler-Powell. What should be a sanctuary of healing has become a crime scene. A patient lies dead, and the exclusive nursing home's carefully maintained facade begins to crumble. Dalgliesh and his investigative team must navigate the complex relationships between staff and patients, each harboring secrets that money and privilege usually keep buried. The isolated manor becomes a pressure cooker where long-simmering tensions explode into violence. As Dalgliesh peels back layers of deception, he discovers that vanity and wealth cannot shield anyone from the consequences of their actions. The case forces him to confront how far people will go to protect their carefully constructed lives.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, isolated-setting
Setting: Cheverell Manor
352 pages · Hardcover · Knopf Publishing Group
Content warnings: violence