Part of Inspector Lynley, book 20
First published 2018
Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers arrives in Ludlow to investigate what appears to be a straightforward suicide. Ian Druitt, the town's respected deacon, died in police custody after being accused of a serious crime. The evidence points to suicide, but Havers senses something wrong with the official story. The medieval town seems peaceful on the surface, populated mostly by elderly retirees and college students. As Havers digs deeper into the circumstances surrounding Druitt's death, she discovers that nearly every resident harbors secrets. What initially looked like a simple case becomes increasingly complex as the detective uncovers layers of deception woven throughout the community. Inspector Thomas Lynley joins the investigation as they work to determine whether Druitt killed himself or was murdered. The case forces both detectives to examine how the past shapes the present, while the investigation threatens to expose truths that could destroy the quiet town's carefully maintained facade. At its heart, this is a story about the lies people tell themselves and others, and the price of seeking redemption.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, detective
Vibes: dark, emotional, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, investigation, secrets
Setting: Ludlow
Period: present-day
692 pages · Hardcover · Viking
Content warnings: death, suicide