Author Description

In the small Midlothian town of Eskbridge, just south of Edinburgh, two elderly gentlemen die in 'suspicious' circumstances. The Procurator Fiscal instructs the local police to investigate. Eskbridge community police station is only operational on a part-time basis. DS Moira Quin and DC Scobie McIntosh, the station's two detectives, have never worked a 'suspicious death' case before. They clearly need support. Bob Scarth, a retired sixty-two year old former Murder Squad detective in Edinburgh, is recruited to help.The first death is that of Charlie Hughson, found lying in a flower bed in a local park. Mr Hughson has just drawn money from an ATM. He has been viciously assaulted and the money is missing. He dies in hospital.The second suspicious death is that of Christie Tait, found dead in his snooker club. He has been violently attacked. The black ball is missing from his table. Is it the murder weapon? Has the killer taken it as a 'trophy'?The detectives find that the local football club has received an unwelcome buy-out bid from an Edinburgh property developer. They discover that the developer was surreptitiously intending to liquidate the club and build houses and flats on the club property. Hughson, as chairperson of the football club; and Tait, convenor of the local planning committee; were in a position to block the bid. The developer stood to lose £55 million if they scuppered the buy-out bid.'That's a lot of motive,' says Scarth. 'But would he kill for it?' 'Wouldn't you?' replies DS Quin.The convoluted and often hilarious account of the detectives' investigations is a roller-coaster ride of unlikely suspects, false leads, heightened expectations, and dashed hopes.The denouement, when it finally comes, is a relief to all. Including the reader.