It is comforting to be in the hands of a master storyteller and Elizabeth George is definitely a master at crafting a twisty, unexpected mystery while continuing to mold and shape her characters in ways that show their depth and humanity. This was such a satisfying book to read!

Ian Druitt died in police custody. Of that there is no question. But why? After the Ludlow police are investigated the conclusion is death by suicide, but Druitt was a well respected deacon of the church and his father is convinced his son would never take his own life. Using his political connections, Druitt’s father convinces the higher ups in Scotland Yard to re-investigate Druitts’s death and the case is assigned to Barbra Havers.  Instead of working with Inspector Lynley, her normal partner, she is assigned to work with their boss, DCS Isabelle Ardery, who is using this opportunity to evaluate Havers and her abilities as a detective.

At first, when Ardery and Havers arrive in Ludlow, all the evidence seem to completely support the verdict of suicide. After all there were rumors that Druitt may have been preying on the young children he was in contact with at the Youth Program he had started. It seemed like an open and shut case, but Havers, senses something amiss and investigates further, digging up some strange anomalies in key witness’ testimony and some disturbing absences in evidence. However, DCS Ardery, who is in the process of suing her ex over their child custody arrangements, is eager to just wrap things up and get back to London. Rejecting Havers’ suspicions, Ardery wraps up the investigation without allowing Havers to pursue what she has uncovered.

Convinced that Ardery is not paying attention, Havers reaches out to Lynley for help and advice, the upshot of which is that Lynley and Havers are sent back to Ludlow to complete the investigation and to tie up the lose ends that Havers had uncovered. As the facts twist and turn and they uncover more and more secrets, Lynley and Havers discover the lies and the tragic misunderstanding at the very heart of  Druitt’s murder, for his death was indeed murder.

Brenda’s Rating: *****(5 out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this to: Marian and Sharon

Book Study Worthy? Yes

Read in ebook format.