The latest Tom Thorne episode, about to be released in paperback, finds him still on the sidelines, suffering from an injury sustained in a previous caper, champing at the bit for a juicy murder case.  But it is not to be.  Instead, he is shunted off on special assignment to the Kidnap Section at Scotland Yard, which needs extra bodies for a sensitive case.  The son of a retired Chief Inspector has been abducted.

The case is unusual.  The lad is 16, not the customary age for a kidnapping.  No ransom demand is forthcoming.  No clues.  The obvious places to start with are those who might have a grudge against the ex-DCI.  But making assumptions isn't always the route to follow.  And that's the case in this plot.  Nothing is at it seems to be.

Together with his Scotland Yard counterpart, Louise Porter (a possible love interest?), Thorne looks for leads and connections which are many and unrelated.  Most significant is one name which the father omits from a list of those who might be seeking revenge against him.

Step by step, the procedural builds to a mighty climax, with time always short.  Is the boy still alive?  What is the motivation?  The result is so unexpected and twisted, one can only marvel at the intricacy as the plot unfolds. Highly recommended.
The latest Tom Thorne episode, about to be released in paperback, finds him still on the sidelines, suffering from an injury sustained in a previous caper, champing at the bit for a juicy murder case. But it is not to be. Instead, he is shunted off on special assignment to the Kidnap Section at Scotland Yard, which needs extra bodies for a sensitive case. The son of a retired Chief Inspector has been abducted. The case is unusual. The lad is 16, not the customary age for a kidnapping. No ransom demand is forthcoming. No clues. The obvious places to start with are those who might have a grudge against the ex-DCI. But making assumptions isn't always the route to follow. And that's the case in this plot. Nothing is at it seems to be. Together with his Scotland Yard counterpart, Louise Porter (a possible love interest? ), Thorne looks for leads and connections which are many and unrelated. Most significant is one name which the father omits from a list of those who might be seeking revenge against him. Step by step, the procedural builds to a mighty climax, with time always short. Is the boy still alive? What is the motivation? The result is so unexpected and twisted, one can only marvel at the intricacy as the plot unfolds. Highly recommended.