The woman lies dead at the foot of the stairs. It's obvious what happened: she tripped and fell. But PC D'Arblay called to the dilapidated West London villa by an anonymous tip-off can't shake the feeling that's exactly what someone wants him to think. It was the deep head wound that killed her - but her dying fall left no blood trail so what was it she hit her head on? DCI Slider of the Shepherd's Bush murder squad is soon convinced D'Arblay's right. But with no motive no murder weapon and no idea even who the victim is Slider faces steep odds to get a result . . . while each painstaking step towards the truth brings him closer to a ruthless evil killer.

Part of the A Bill Slider Mystery series.