Wonder if Sue Grafton read this before starting her Alphabet series - the hero Cordelia Gray reminds me of Grafton's Kinsey Milhone in some ways, a young but tough woman, no gimmicks but a gun! But very British. The mystery is well constructed and ties itself up like a snake eating its tail. James' other detective Adam Dalgliesh is a minor character (he is actually a very strong presence in the book, I think James seems to be in love with him, to the point of losing objectivity!)
Suspenseful mystery. Very enjoyable.
Handsome Mark Callender did not die the way a well brought up young gentleman should. He was found hanging by his neck, a lipstick stain on his mouth and a picture of a nude girl nearby. The official verdict was suicide, but his artistocratic father suspected murder, and hired fledgling detective Cordelia Gray to investigate. As this determined young lady followed a twisting trail of guilgy secrets and shameful sins, she soon reached the conclusion that the nicest people do the nastiest things.
