Starred review from May 1, 2006
Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend's latest case takes him back to World War II, when he was dogsbody for a particularly unpleasant officer, Douglas Coutes. Decades later, Coutes is a government minister, and Charlie is a chief inspector. But their paths never cross until Coutes calls Charlie to say he's been accused of murder and to ask for Charlie's help. The case is complicated by the fact that the murder took place in 1944; a further twist is that the victim was the brother of an influential American politician. The U.S. flies in an FBI team to "assist" on the case, and they're quick to poke fun at Charlie's plodding technique. But the FBI seems exceptionally eager to close the case, and when they confirm Coutes' innocence in a few days with little evidence, Charlie smells a rat. This is an outstanding British police procedural, and it may just be the best yet in this popular and inventive series. Don't forget Woodend when you're compiling those lists of best British coppers: he belongs in the same league with Rebus, Resnick, Harpur and Iles, Morse, et al.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)