In the fourth Inspector Bliss mystery, Bliss teams up with Daphne Lovelace to trace the father of a Canadian woman whose husband is dying of cancer. While Ruth Jackson may believe that she was sired by a Beatle, Bliss and Daphne have other ideas.

In Vancouver, Ruth's world falls apart when her dying husband suddenly disappears and she is arrested on suspicion of murder. His substantial life insurance policy and the blood-stained knife found in her kitchen don't help her case.

Detective Sergeant Phillips of the Mounties takes up the case, and Trina Button, a zany homecare nurse, stirs up trouble for everyone in this intriguing international story.

James Hawkins was a police commander in the U.K. for 20 years and a Canadian private investigator for a further 8 years. He was also director of education at the Canadian Institute for Environmental Investigations. His debut novel, Missing: Presumed Dead (2001), was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel.

James Hawkins' profile page

• Short-listed, Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel

"This story mixes danger, suspense and skulduggery with bravery, romance and a dash of Keystone Cops."

Canadian Press: Halifax Daily News, Kingston Whig Standard, Times and Transcript (Moncton, NB)