Description
Book SynopsisDouglas Hunter works as a police detective till his wife leaves him. Attempting to locate her, he abuses his access to police databases, is forced to resign and sets up as a private detective. Alison Ogilvie believes her husband is cheating. She engages Hunter to check out a meeting in Dublin he is due to attend. There is no meeting. Hunter is visited by his old boss, DS Maureen MacNeil. Hostile as ever, she demands access to his house to keep tabs on the disused church next door. When Ogilvie fails to come home, Hunter traces the car but not Alan himself. They are visited by DS MacNeil. A body thought to be that of Alan Ogilvie has been found in a rented cottage. Ogilvie died of auto-erotic asphyxiation. Questioned on suspicion of withholding information concerning her husband's death, Alison contacts a lawyer, Louise Galbraith. Although the evidence linking both Alison and Hunter to Alan Ogilvie is circumstantial, MacNeil has dreamt up a conspiracy theory linking the disappearance of Hunter's wife and the death of Alison's husband. Alison finds a colleague of her husband dead in her bathroom. Wanted by the Irish police for the murder of a prostitute, he has broken in looking for somewhere to hide and in the process severed an artery in the lower arm. Alison wants to dispose of the body, Hunter insists on contacting the police. MacNeil's suspicions are confirmed. The church is raided by the police, the NCA and the Border Force. Thirteen people are detained, two being people smugglers. A man working on a blocked drain discovers bones in Hunter's garden. That morning a letter arrives from a lawyer acting for his wife demanding half the value of their house. Despite what DS MacNeil may think, his wife is still alive. A pathologist confirms the bones in the garden are those of a dog. MacNeil interviews Hunter on suspicion of murdering his wife. After rehearsing the existing evidence MacNeil goes on to the bones found in his garden. A pathologist has attended, the remains must be Susan's. It becomes clear that MacNeil's judgement is impaired. A test confirms MacNeil is using cocaine. MacNeil's boss, DI Maitland confirms that Alison is no longer suspected of anything, including any involvement in the death of her husband's colleague. The day after Alan Ogilvie's funeral, Alison turns up on Hunter's doorstep. Her sister has decided to stay on to support her over the festive period - the last thing she wants. They quarrel. Alison has left her own house to escape from her sister's children. Hunter and Alison spend the night together. Like Susan before her, Alison is less than impressed by his performance. They will have to work on it.
Trade ReviewAn intriguing mystery set in Edinburgh; Another well written book by Rod Hart. Set in Edinburgh, Douglas and Alison encounter a wide range of diverse characters in their joint quest to to find their missing spouses. They meet some shady folk along the way and the author's wry sense of humour and his ability to delve below the surface of what makes people tick make it a real page turner.
