This is the eighth novel in the DI Joseph Rafferty series and, as always by this author, it is a complex, clever and well-plotted yarn. In this story, DI Rafferty and DS Llewellyn investigate the fatal stabbing of a man in the car park of a local pub in which the victim's soon-to-be-married son is enjoying a stag night party. It is clear from the start that father and son were not on good terms, so the son is initially the first suspect. Although there is no shortage of witnesses, memories are poor, due to an excess of alcohol on the night in question.
The two detectives, who are hard-pushed to find sufficient clues and reliable witnesses, are soon caught up in a complex case involving the victim's private and business life. The plot thickens as family rivalry and jealousy begin to emerge and the victim turns out to be a randy, unfaithful husband whom few people liked or trusted.
Whilst DI Rafferty is being hounded by his senior officer, Superintendent Bradley, for a swift result, matters are further complicated by a second crime - the brutal murder of the dead man's long-time mistress. DS Llewellyn is sympathetic to Rafferty's personal problem involving the rift between him and his ex-fiancée and helps where he can, he is unaware of his boss's other anxiety that officers, investigating a case of stolen property, might discover that Rafferty's happy-go lucky mother could be named as a receiver of stolen goods. The plot thickens; there are many ingenious twists and turns in this book but the solution is never apparent until the last page. The ending is as satisfactory as it is uplifting; the case is cleverly solved and DI Rafferty's private life is problem-free once again. A very good read and highly recommended.
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E.Jones