The Various Haunts of Men

The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill

DS Freya Graffham and DC Nathan Coates are checking out the home of a reported missing woman.  The empty house is unremarkable, but Graffham does find a gift wrapped box, and inside were a set of cuff links.  Who was the mysterious man they were intended for?  Later Graffham discovers that the missing woman had been purchasing other jewelry.

DC Nathan Coates is willing to help Graffham despite there not any overtime available.  He has discovered that there were a few other missing people recently.  The case becomes more serious when a young woman goes missing.  Graffham has no difficulty in persuading DCI Simon Serrailler to put more effort into the investigation.

There are links amongst the missing persons, but beyond that Graffham has nothing.  Then an elderly woman goes missing.  Serrailler tells Graffham to act on it.  Will Graffham be able to find what or who is behind the missing people before another goes missing?

Author Susan Hill entwines the stories of the victims into the search done by Graffham and DC Coates.  Hints about who the perpetrator might be are seeded throughout the story, but it isn’t until very late in the mystery that the reader starts to pick up on the truth.  A thoroughly enjoyable read, and hard to put down.  I’m looking forward to picking up the sequels.