Charlie Priest, early 50s, is a long-time Heckley Police (Yorkshire) murder squad DI. Temporarily named Acting DCI, he is called to the scene of the death of a retired storekeeper Alfred Armitage. It looks like a suicide, but soon a murder investigation is underway.This is the first Stuart Pawson novel I've read, but it won't be the last. Good characterization. Interesting criminal investigation. Side story about Charlie's new girlfriend, Sonia Thornton, a former world class distance runner known as "La Gazelle" whose knee was injured in an auto accident who he is encouraging to return to competitive running is entertaining. And Pawson pulls off connecting this "diversion" to the murder investigation.