ɪt wʌz ʃˈɔːɹtlɪstᵻd fɚðə mˈɪstɚɹi ɹˈaɪɾɚz ʌv ɐmˈɛɹɪkə ˈɛdɡɚɹ ɐwˈɔːɹd, mˌeɪkɪŋ ɪt wˈʌn ʌv ˈoʊnli tˈuː ɪnspˈɛktɚ wˈɛksfɚd nˈɑːvəlz ˈɛvɚ tə hɐvbɪn ʃˈɔːɹtlɪstᵻd fɔːɹ ˈiːðɚɹ ʌvðə "bˈɪɡ tˈuː" kɹˈaɪmfˈɪkʃən ɐwˈɔːɹdz, ðɪ ˈɛdɡɚ ɔːɹ ðə sˌiːdˌʌbəljˌuːˈeɪ ɡˈoʊld dˈæɡɚ.
It was shortlisted for the Mystery Writers' Of America Edgar Award, making it one of only two Inspector Wexford novels ever to have been shortlisted for either of the "big two" crime-fiction awards, the Edgar or the CWA Gold Dagger.