Two separate police in­ves­ti­ga­tions take place in Portsmouth at the same time. DI Joe Faraday is called over to the Isle of Wight to in­ves­ti­gate the headless body found washed up at the base of a cliff. Suspicion falls on an ex-soldier who runs a nursing home, a man with a dangerous reputation.

DC Paul Winter becomes involved with a callgirl who has ties to a prominent busi­ness­man, who won’t take no for an answer. Winter’s poor judgement may be due to the crippling headaches he’s developed of late.

Hurley has written a police procedural that is both well-plotted and character-driven. Joe Faraday is believably solid and competent with in­ter­est­ing quirks. Paul Winter has sailed too close to the wind for years and is coming apart.