At the start of Curzon's intelligently contrived 12th Mike Yeadings mystery (after 2005's The Last to Leave
), a Filipino bartender named Ramón watches in horror as the body of wealthy 94-year-old invalid Emily Withers plummets from her high-rise apartment in an unnamed town outside London. Curzon reveals Emily's story bit by tantalizing bit via a large cast of characters, both sympathetic and unsavory, including her great-niece, Alyson Orme; her doctor, Keith Stanford; and Sheena Judd, an unreliable nurse's aide. A bewildering array of false scents and red herrings keep Thames Valley Supt. Mike Yeadings and DS Rosemary Zyczynski hopping. Curzon blends solid police work with skillfully drawn minor characters whose actions, often unintentionally, complicate the investigation. (Jan.)
