Synopses & Reviews
Murder is rarely cut and dried, motive and means, cause and effect. Usually it follows its own twisted logic
Deputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner has a failed marriage on his hands, a death on his conscience, and little time to deal with either. He's facing the biggest challenge of his careerwithin the secret corridors where dark power is wielded. So he goes to the very topthe Prime Ministerlest he himself becomes collateral damage. Back in Edinburgh, Skinner's daughter is being harassed by a stalker. Can he protect her? A bookmaker has taken one gamble too many and paid his debt in a gruesome fashion. Is it an underworld vendetta, or something more sinister? And a casual call sets Skinner on a personal mission that quickly points to a bigamist at work. Or is it worse? Four crimes, four crises: can Skinner and his people solve them? Indeed, can they survive them?
Review
"Highly recommended for patrons who enjoy British police procedurals." Library Journal"Jardine excels at coordinating the multiple crimes crucial to a police procedural and setting his coppers against the clock." Kirkus Reviews"A remarkably assured first novel . . . a tour de force." The New York Times
About the Author
Quintin Jardine took to crime writing both naturally and with relief. He is married with an extended family of four adult kids, and two Tonkinese cats.