Murder is rarely cut and dried, motive and means, cause and effect. Usually it follows its own twisted logicDeputy Chief Constable Bob Skinner has a failed marriage on his hands, a death on his conscience, and little time to deal with either. He s facing the biggest challenge of his careerwithin the secret corridors where dark power is wielded. So he goes to the very topthe Prime Ministerlest he himself becomes collateral damage. Back in Edinburgh, Skinner s daughter is being harassed by a stalker. Can he protect her? A bookmaker has taken one gamble too many and paid his debt in a gruesome fashion. Is it an underworld vendetta, or something more sinister? And a casual call sets Skinner on a personal mission that quickly points to a bigamist at work. Or is it worse? Four crimes, four crisescan Skinner and his people solve them? Indeed, can they survive them?"