Venetia Aldridge QC je a distinguished barrister. Keď she agrees to defensuje Garry Ashe, čelil brutálnym murderom jeho autá, je to jeden z viac možností na triumph v jej odkázanej kariére ako zločinec. Ale iba štyri weeks later, Miss Aldridge je zhromaždený dead at jej dosku. Commander Adam Dalgliesh, zaradený do investícií, hľadí motívy pre zdvíhanie zákazníkov Venetia has defended, hier profesionálne colleagues, hier family - even her lover. Ako Dalgliesh narrows the field of suspects, a second brutal murder draws them in greater complexities of intrigue and evil . . . 'Ingenious and beautifully written, this is PD James at jej highly impressive best.' Sunday Telegraph 'Fiendishly clever . . . Prispôsobená performance by leader in her field' Sunday Times