When barrister Trish Maguire is called on by her superior to handle a distraught author whose been confronted by a libel suit, she expects the matter to be easily dealt with. Bea Bowman’s usual subjects are nineteenth century figures, but she’s just published a biography of 70’s bomber Jeremy Marton, who served twenty years in jail. On his release he set up and ran homeless shelters, but when it was discovered that they were being used to disperse drugs, without his knowledge, Jeremy committed suicide. The discovery of his diaries, and a mysterious, heretofore unknown conspirator, Baiborn, open an old case wide open. Unfortunately for Bea, Baiborn is the private nickname for the newly minted Lord Tick of Southsea, and Lord Tick is enraged.
When Trish’s friend, DI Caro Lyalt, is contacted by an old friend, whistle-blowing cop Stephanie Taft, about an extremely sensitive matter – corruption at the very highest levels of the London Metropolitan Police, she’s a little suspicious. Although Steph’s had a number of successes, she’s seen as being out of control and unsubstantiated. The man she accuses is not only Caro’s rival, and front-runner, for a hush-hush liaison role Caro’s on the short list for, he’s also Steph’s ex. But when Steph lays out what lead to her suspicions, Caro becomes at least partly convinced, and when Steph’s shot and killed during a raid, her suspicions increase.
The two main plots, and a few secondary ones, combine in a convincing and richly detailed novel that is one of Cooper’s best, in a series that’s fast paced, well plotted and peopled with strongly characters. I’ve sadly read this out of order, making some of Trish’s personal life (the inclusion of her young half-brother in her household, and the solidification of her relationship with partner George) a little disjointed, but Cooper includes enough background that I was easily able to grasp the gist, and it’s with a sufficiently deft hand that I suspect readers who tackle the series chronologically wouldn’t be jarred by the reminder. Next, please! - Alex
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