The story starts in a courtroom at the Old Bailey in London where Venetia Aldridge is defending a murderer. She knows she has won when the sole witness for the Prosecution appears to have had a problem with her eyesight. Something her client asked her to check while the witness is on the stand. After the verdict, she wants to get away. As with all her clients, she loathed to stay with them, she wants never to see them again and Ashe is no exception to the rule. An excellent criminal defense lawyer, she's a member of one the Chambers at the Temples. She's the most senior member after the head of Chambers who will retire at the end of the year. But Drysdale Laud has been John Langton's right hand for the past ten years and he expects to be his successor. So when Langton tells him that Venetia has shown interest in replacing him he is a bit discomfited.

Some time later, Venetia's daughter, Octavia, shows up at court with Ashe at her arm and announces to her mother that they are engaged. At the same time, the client she successfully represented tells her of what his prior counsel; a member of Chambers too did or did not do a few years back. The announcement of her daughter engagement to a murderer, plus those news didn't make Venetia happy. She storms in and yells at the other lawyer for what he knew.

Harold Naughton, the head clerk of Chambers arrives as usual in the morning. Just a few minutes later, he receives a call from Venetia's maid who asks if she's in. He checks her office and found her dead in a very peculiar way.

Adam Dalgliesh is called in because of the specific situation. They know the murder must have been done by an insider because of its specific but everyone has an alibi.

Interwoven in the pursuit of the murderer is the story of Ashe and Octavia, of all the members of Chambers whose future seem brighter now that Venetia Aldridge is dead. Everyone profits from the crime. It is up to Adam Dalgliesh and his team to find the culprit.

This is an excellent book. And as usual P.D. James writes in a beautiful style, very sophisticated and you don't know who did it until the last few pages.

Like Patricia Cornwell, she's one of my favorite authors for the genre and I have neglected her for the past few years but never will again.

Advice: buy it now it's on paperback, rent it from someone, get it from the library, or on audiotape. I loved the book.