Souvenirs of a Murder

Two cases—one engrossing, the other less so—figure in Duffy’s 13th mystery to feature Patrick Gillard and his wife, Ingrid Langley (after 2008’s Blood Substitute ). When Patrick’s latest undercover assignment for SOCA, the Serious Organized Crime Agency, results in the shooting deaths of criminal Andrea Pangborne, members of her gang and her innocent daughter, the former MI5 agent looks guilty of their murders. The problem is, he doesn’t recall what happened because he was drugged. Ingrid, though she’s recently given birth to their son, rushes to clear Patrick. Complicating matters is the “Case of the Man Who Tried to Take Over a Village and Ended up Dead,” involving a rectory being renovated for Patrick’s parents, but this serves mainly as filler. Of far more interest is the investigation into the Pangborne slayings, especially after Ingrid discovers a vital clue at the crime scene that others missed. (Dec.)