ɹᵻkˈɜːɹɪŋ kˈæɹɪktɚz pˈeɪʃəns ˈætkɪn ænd pəlˈiːs ɐdmˈɪnɪstɹˌeɪɾɚ fɹˈæŋk lˈɔːdɚdˌeɪl mˌeɪk ðɛɹ deɪbjˈuː; lˈɔːdɚdˌeɪl ɪz pɹɪzˈɛntᵻd æz sˈʌmwʌn hˌuːz bˌɪn ɚɹˈaʊnd fɚɹə wˈaɪl ˈɔfskɹˈiːn, ænd pˈeɪʃəns ɪz ɔːlɹˌɛdi ɪn ɐ fˈɔltɚɹɪŋ ɹᵻlˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp wɪð ɹᵻbjˈuːz wɛn ðə bˈʊk stˈɑːɹts.
Recurring characters Patience Atkin and police administrator Frank Lauderdale make their debut; Lauderdale is presented as someone who's been around for a while 'off-screen', and Patience is already in a faltering relationship with Rebus when the book starts.