Dead Beat

It is the early 60s, Kate O'Donnell has left Liverpool to look for a job in London as a photographer.  She has no place to stay, but is able to sleep on the couch of a friend.  Luckily she does land a job with an agency on a two month trial basis.  One other reason for going to London was to search for her brother, Tom.

DS Harry Barnard is on the lookout for the killer of a homosexual, a man who apparently lived with Kate's brother.  He finally comes across Kate.  He gets a picture of Tom from her.  Later, he can't understand why his boss is telling him to back off the case.

Kate's quest for information leads her along a similar path to that which Barnard is following.  As the investigation progresses, DS Barnard stumbles on a murdered shop owner who has been a reliable informer for him.  The victim has died in the same way the original victim had, a slashed throat.

Pictures Kate has taken may prove her brother's innocence, although she doesn't know that until she shows Barnard.  Barnard is shocked by what the pictures reveal.

Author Patricia Hall has written a graphic and tension filled novel of London on the early sixties.  A good read.