Ex-college lecturer Gavin Miller is found dead; his distorted body strewn across a disused railway track near his home. There's no sign of a struggle, and no concrete evidence except for one distinguishing package: GBP5,000 of cash, tucked inside the man's pocket.

But when DCI Banks delves into Miller's past, he uncovers a troubled existence tarnished by accusations of abuse and misconduct which throws up an array of puzzling questions.

What really occurred at the college where the victim used to teach?

How was he embroiled in political activism at Essex University, over forty years ago?

And what links him to an upstanding pillar of the community, who also harbours a dark secret from her past?

One thing is clear: someone will stop at nothing - even murder - to prevent Banks from discovering the truth . . .

The twenty-first novel in Number One bestselling author Peter Robinson's critically acclaimed DCI Banks series.

About the Author
Peter Robinson's DCI Banks became a major ITV1 drama starring Stephen Tompkinson (Wild at Heart, Ballykissangel) as Inspector Banks, and Andrea Lowe (The Bill, Murphy's Law) as DI Annie Cabbot. Peter's standalone novel BEFORE THE POISON won the IMBA's 2013 Dilys Award as well as the 2012 Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel by the Crime Writers of Canada. This was Peter's sixth Arthur Ellis award. His critically acclaimed DCI Banks novels have won numerous awards in Britain, the United States, Canada and Europe, and are published in translation all over the world. In 2020 Peter was made a Grand Master by the Crime Writers of Canada. Peter grew up in Yorkshire, and divided his time between Richmond, UK, and Canada until his death in 2022.

Reviews
The Alan Banks mystery-suspense novels are, simply put, the best series on the market * Stephen King *
Robinson's gift for realistic characterisation is matched by an authentically realised sense of place; landscape is a crucial element in his work * Good Book Guide *
A wonderful, well-written plot with a great twist and strong characters . . . a page-turning read * Woman's Way *
Peter Robinson deserves a place near, perhaps even at the top of, the British crime writers' league * The Times *
A wonderful, well-written plot with a great twist and strong characters and there's even romance on the cards for Banks too. A page-turning read for both fans of Robinson and Banks and readers who really enjoy a good crime-thriller. * Woman's Way *
Classic Robinson: a labyrinthine plot merged with deft characterisation * Observer *
Brilliant! . . . Gut-wrenching plotting, alongside heart-wrenching portraits of the characters who populate his world, not to mention the top-notch police procedure. -- Jeffery Deaver
Detective Chief Inspector Banks, the artsy and melancholic Yorkshire detective, and his snarky sidekick, Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot, are consistently fun to watch . . . As usual with a Banks novel, the chief inspector's frictions with higher-ups are nearly as gripping as the unraveling of the case itself. First-rate procedural and character study . . . this is one of the series' highlights. -- Starred Review * Booklist *
Robinson's gift for realistic characterisation is matched by an authentically realised sense of place; landscape is a crucial element in his work. The Alan Banks books have won many awards over the years including the Arthur Ellis award for best crime novel for Past Reason Hated and the Anthony Award for In a Dry Season; Children of the Revolution is a solid entry. * Good Book Guide *



Book Information
ISBN 9781444704938
Author Peter Robinson
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Hodder Paperback
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton
Weight(grams) 279g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 163mm * 25mm