DI Joseph Rafferty just returned from his honeymoon, is welcomed back to work with the body of Adam Ainsley, sports celebrity who has been found dead from poisoning.

Adam Ainsley had been attending a reunion at his old school; Griffin House is an imposing building dating back to the late 1550s and numbers some prestigious old-boys. Rafferty and his Sergeant, the elegant Llewellyn, set up shop in the Senior Common Room and begins the interviews. Eventually following the forensic evidence, and means and opportunity, Rafferty narrows his investigations down to a handful of suspects.

Meanwhile, Rafferty's Ma is organising her own family reunion and with the aid of the Internet has discovered many hitherto unheard of distant relatives – she has invited them all. Having a key to Rafferty's house she has commandeered Rafferty's two spare rooms and happily installed four of these relatives. Regrettably, being a busy woman she hasn't got around to telling Rafferty about this development in his living arrangements, thus he hasn't told his wife Abra. So with Superintendent Bradley on his case for a quick result owing to budget restrictions at work, and Abra on the war path at home Rafferty is as usual, in it up to his neck.

As they pursue their investigations, super-sportsman golden boy Adam begins to look a little tarnished. Rafferty has several theories but Llewellyn keeps pouring cold water on them.

This is another excellent entry in this marvellous series. The characters spring off the page. The dialogue is sparkling, great interplay between the two detectives, and the mystery intriguing to the end.

Lizzie Hayes, England
March 2011