Andy Dalziel has just returned to his mid-Yorkshire force after his long convalescence from a near fatal terrorist bomb (The Price of Butchers Meat and Death Comes for the Fat Man, both also reviewed on Myshelf.com). He isn't certain that he can resume his duties. In fact he feels his staff has hidden questions about the same thing. He also wonders how much Pascoe has taken over his job.

He is contacted by Gina Wolfe, whose husband Alex, a London policeman, has been missing for 7 years. Alex disappeared while under investigation by Internal Affairs, who suspected him of leaking information to a major criminal target. Gina has received a newspaper clipping showing someone who may be her long lost husband. Since Gina wants to marry again she wants Dalziel to find proof that he is dead.

Dalziel's subsequent investigation becomes involved with a Welsh tabloid journalist who senses the solution to that old story, and with a member of Parliament. Over the course of 24 hours he works with Peter Pascoe to try to find the solution.

Reginald Hill has once again given his readers a suspense filled story told with his usual excellent and elegant use of the English language. The dialogue between Dalziel and Pascoe is crisp and witty, handled by a very skillful writer. This is a very complicated mystery with great characters. The story is told, with many twists, within a 24 hour time frame, which tends to increase the pace.