From the opening scene in a London 'pea-souper', the descriptive powers of this writer suck you into the strange and captivating thriller. Set in post-WWII London, each of the characters is wonderfully and mesmorisingly described, with effective cameos, such as the first meeting between the police inspector Luke and the old Canon Avril.
Oz Blackstone is enjoying the success of his latest smash hit movie. But when blackmailers threaten Oz's father with a sleazy scam, the dream begins to turn to nightmare. And as Oz prepares to fight back, he knows he's being sucked into a vortex of evil.
DCC Bob Skinner has a failed marriage on his hands, and a death on his conscience, but little time to deal with either as he faces the biggest challenge of his career within the secret corridors where dark power is wielded. As his hunt develops, he goes to the very top - the Prime Minister - lest he himself becomes collateral damage.
Matt Scudder - former cop and alcoholic - has had enough. He plans to wind up his investigations and concentrate on his AA meetings and his lovely wife, Elaine. But he agrees to take one last case. Louise, a single woman, has finally met a man she likes - but she fears he's keeping something from her. She hires Matt to check him out. Meanwhile, Elaine's best friend, Monica, also has a secret lover. But Monica is more street-wise than Louise; to her it's just a game, one she's sure she can win. But before Matt can track down the identity of Louise's lover, Monica is found murdered in her apartment.
Matt Scudder finds himself caught up in a web of deceit and treachery when he comes to the aid of a homeless man charged with the brutal death of a yuppie lawyer. As Matt investigates, he discovers the victim was a federal informant who may have been eliminated as an act of revenge.
