Part of Inspector Lynley, book 16
First published 2010
DI Thomas Lynley remains on compassionate leave following his wife's murder when Isabelle Ardery arrives at the Met as his temporary replacement. A body turns up in a Stoke Newington cemetery, giving Isabelle her first major case and a chance to prove herself. She needs Lynley's team on her side, especially Barbara Havers, but their loyalty belongs to Lynley alone. The Met faces mounting pressure after recent public relations disasters, and media attention bears down on the investigation. Isabelle moves quickly to identify a suspect, perhaps too quickly in her eagerness for results. She persuades Lynley to return to work, and together with Havers, they follow leads that take them to the New Forest. The case forces them to uncover secrets from the past, where an old act of violence has damaged multiple generations. The resolution brings both tragedy and shock as the truth finally emerges.
Genres: mystery, crime, thriller, detective
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: Met, New Forest, Stoke Newington
Period: Compassionate Leave
692 pages · Hardcover · Harper
Content warnings: death