Death of an Innocent

It is a snowy Sunday morning and DS Monika Paniatowski has driven out to the cottage where her boss, Chief Inspector Charlie Woodend lives to inform him that a couple have been shot to death at a farmhouse.  When they arrive they find that the male has been shot in the chest and head with a shotgun.  The female appears to be only about 15 years old.  The owner of the house is missing.

A BBC reporter is the one who has called in the crime; he has also released the information to the BBC.  Woodland immediately arrests him.  For this, Woodend is suspended from the force by his DCC.  It isn't long before he is scheming with Paniatowski to stay informed and do some sleuthing on the sly, which could get the both of them into a lot more trouble.

The following day a DCI from a neighbouring constabulary is in to question Paniatowski about Woodend.  A formal investigation into her DCI has begun.  However, that isn't going to stop Woodend from proceeding with his own investigation into the murders.

It isn't long after this that Woodend is pulled in a end charged with accepting bribes.  He knows that he has been set up by his vengeful DCC.  After getting out on bail, Woodend is threatened by a local criminal, who indicates he has ties to the DCC.  Woodend and Paniatowski carry on with their secret investigation.  They discover who the murder victims were, and their ties to some local criminals.  Although they now have proof, they have no way of presenting it.  What to do?

Author Sally Spencer has written an excellent crime novel in "Death of an Innocent".  A read you won't want to put down.