** spoiler alert ** Another Thomas Lynley/Barbar Havers’ mystery. This picks up after Lynley’s beloved, pregnant wife Helen was gunned down on the steps of their London home by a 12 year old. One reviewer said the pace was glacial which is accurate. Lynley is walking the Cronish coast for miles and mile with only a sleep bag and finds a body of a 19 year who seemingly fell while rappelling off a cliff, but it turns out to be the work of a crafty murderer. There is an obscure love interest who is vaguely attractive and secretive (spoiler alert) and turns out to be ashamed of being raised a gypsy. Who cares about that one, right? Lynley speaks in a vague, good natured befuldleness which is supposed to convey charm but is annoying. However, in following a tangential lead, Lynley breaks the case. The only cool character is the local DI Bea Hannaford, an iconoclastic punk middle aged detective. She struggles with a teenage son, and a divorced ex who betrayed her, but she still loves. The detail about the Cornish coast and the extreme sports there from surfing to rock-climbing is fascinating. I liked trudging through it (a Lynleyism?) but not sure I’d recommend it.