A visit to a retired prime minister’s riverside apartment triggers a cold case investigation that forces John Coffin to confront a legacy of violence. When Richard Lavender, a former leader nearing the end of his life, confesses to assisting his serial killer father in burying a victim, Coffin must determine if the claim is a senile delusion or a factual revelation. He tasks Chief Inspector Phoebe Astley with the investigation, but the inquiry is complicated by a fresh murder on a foggy November night. The narrative follows a procedural framework, balancing the weight of historical trauma against the immediate urgency of a new crime.

This work is characterized by the distinct blend of jauntiness and menace that defines the author's broader body of work. The narrative relies on the established dynamic between John Coffin and his investigative team to ground the more sensational elements of the plot. Readers likely find the interplay between the retired prime minister's confession and the modern-day murder to be the primary driver of the book's suspense. The prose maintains a steady, clinical focus on the mechanics of the investigation, ensuring that the historical mystery remains tethered to the current police procedural elements.