Two young detectives die in apparent accidents but John Coffin is not satisfied with that verdict especially when the widow of one of the detectives appears to have committed suicide on a bonfire. The detectives were both involved in investigating money laundering and he wonders whether they got too close to the truth. Coffin's private life seems to take on complexities to the same degree that the money laundering investigation develops twists and turns. He wants an old friend of his, Phoebe Astley, to be appointed to a new post but his wife, Stella, is less keen on having Phoebe close to home. When Phoebe herself goes missing Coffin finds himself more personally involved than he wanted to be.This is a dark and complex book with plenty going on underneath the surface. I like Coffin as a character as he is more complex than many detectives between the pages of crime novels. He is not always reasonable and not always patient but he does his best and he tries not to jump to obvious conclusions. His wife Stella is an ideal foil for him. She is an actress but one who has a good head for business and an excellent understanding of people.This is a compelling read and one which kept me turning the pages faster and faster towards the end of the book as I wanted to know what happened and whether all the series characters survived. The book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel as there is enough background information provided to ensure that the reader can understand what is going on.
