Inspector Lynley Book 4
This book is set before the previous three books when Thomas Lynley and Deborah Cutter are engaged.
Tommy, Deb, Simon and Helen are spending the weekend at Tommy’s childhood home Howenstow in Cornwall so Deb can meet Tommy’s mum Daze. Deb’s father, who is Simon’s servant, has joined them, as has Simon’s sister Sydney and her partner. Tommy’s brother Peter and his girlfriend Sascha have unexpectedly turned up as well.
The four friends and Tommy’s mother are invited to a play in town, and on their way back to the estate and mansion, Nancy Cambrey, the daughter of the Howenstow estate manager John Penellin, bumps into Tommy. Nancy is distraught and tells him that her husband Mick has been murdered.
Tommy tries to stay out of the investigation as Scotland Yard have not been invited in, but can’t help to look into the murdered man’s life, and when Nancy’s dad is arrested he is certain John is not guilty. Deb recognised the murdered man as she bumped into him a few days ago when she rang her neighbour’s doorbell.
Throughout the book, I was very confused because the book is set before the first three books of the series. I was double, triple checking to see whether this was really the fourth book in the series.
I did enjoy this book – it was nice to learn what the relationship between Tommy and Deb was before she married Simon (book 1 of the series).
Read for The 52 Book Club Reading Challenge 2026
Prompt 37: Started on the 26th of the month
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
