Book 8 of the Inspector Lynley series
Simon St James’ brother re-appears in Simon’s life with a friend in tow. This friend, tabloid editor in chief Dennis Luxford, explains that his illegitimate daughter Charlotte was kidnapped and he received a strange note saying he has to publish the story of his first born child on the front page of his paper, or Lottie will die. Lottie is Dennis’ daughter by conservative MP Evelyn Bowen, who has her sights set on living and working in 10 Downing Street. He asks St James to investigate. Simon wants to involve the authorities but Luxford is adamant that they can’t because of Lottie’s mother’s position in government. Deborah convinces Simon to help Luxford.
Eve Bowen is convinced that Luxford is the one who abducted her daughter so he can tell the world about their brief affair 11 years ago during the Tory party congress. Luxford has written the article as instructed and is waiting for Evelyn to approve its publication. As she was certain Luxford was behind her daughter’s kidnapping, Evelyn refused to give her approval.
When the body of a young girl has been found and identified as Charlotte (Lottie) Bowen, Inspector Lynley gets involved. He is livid when he finds out that the St Jameses and his own girlfriend Lady Helen Clyde knew about the abduction of the Tory MP’s ten-year-old daughter.
Then Luxford’s son is taken, again the demand is that he comes clean about the circumstances of his first born child’s conception. This time Luxford publishes the article about his short lived affair with Ms Bowen (who was a journalist at the time). However, the kidnapper lets him know that there’s been a mistake in the story and tells him he has to rectify this or his son Leo will be killed as well.
Meanwhile, Barbara Havers is in Wiltshire where Lottie’s body was found, trying to find where the girl was held in the hopes of finding little Leo Luxford. The detective constable assisting her, Robin Payne, is trying to seduce her…
I seriously wanted to shake the mother of the kidnapped girl and go ‘give the slime ball the benefit of the doubt you dozy cow’. I cannot understand how one could play with the life of one’s own child like that!
I read this book 30 years ago and yet I still remembered who the culprit was. Nonetheless, an excellent read!
Read for The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 48: Related to the word “Nemesis”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
