Gunrunner: A Brock and Poole Mystery

A murder at Heathrow Airport propels Ison’s smooth 11th police procedural featuring Chief Insp. Harry Brock and Det. Sgt. Dave Poole (after 2010’s All Quiet on Arrival). Robbery is obviously not a motive in the stabbing death of Kerry Hammond, found on Christmas day in her Jaguar XJ in the airport car park with a large amount of cash. Suspects soon emerge, notably Kerry’s husband, estate agent Nicholas Hammond, with whom she was supposed to fly to New York the night before. Why did Nicholas depart Heathrow without her? The victim owned a haulage firm, Kerry Trucking, and it doesn’t take long for the London coppers to uncover some dodgy business practices there. The investigation also reveals that Kerry was pretty free with her favors and frequented nightclubs like Mayfair’s Spanish Fly. Competent police work by Brock’s crew, including redoubtable Det. Insp. Kate Ebdon, complements the clever plotting. (Jan.)