CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Another non-series mystery novel by Ian Rankin.

This slim novel is one of his earlier works.

Miles Flint, the main character, is not despicable, but not all that lovable, either.

He's mid-career intelligence guy, assigned to watch an assassin in London. But Flint fails. Turns out he was deliberately set up to get distracted at a crucial moment, which allows the assassin to reach his target.

Flint gets sent up to Ireland for a time, nearly gets killed, manages to rescue himself and save the day.

He ends up living nicely with a rejuvenated marriage in a picturesque French village.

Sort of formula. I surmise Rankin was still experimenting, had not yet found his stride, with this one.