Clean Cut

DCI James Langton has been stabbed with a machete.  He is intensive care, but will he survive?  His girlfriend DI Anna Travis is devastated.  His police sergeants Lewis and Barolli agree that they are going to do their best to help Langton recover.

Six weeks on, and Travis is working on a new murder team.  A young woman has been murdered in her own home.  Travis is sure that the killer lives nearby and will kill again.  It isn’t long before they have a suspect, but he has disappeared.  However it isn’t long before they have him in custody. 

Although the evidence against the culprit is cut and dried, his lawyer suggests that Travis had come by some of the evidence illegally.  She retraces her steps and is surprised when she finds more evidence, which might point to the person who stabbed Langton.  But how can they get him?

Later, when Langton is released from hospital, Travis comes to realise how difficult his recovery is going to be for the pair of them.  After Langton makes a surprisingly speedy recovery, he is back on the job, but when Travis shares what she possibly knows about his attacker, he goes ballistic and they split up.

Shortly afterwards a new murder case, which is indirectly connected to the previous one, is opened up.  Langton is put in charge, and he wants Travis working with him.  She tries to refuse, but orders are orders.

This case will develop to be a brutal and horrific case.  Author Lynda La Plante is graphic in the details as Langton and his team investigate gruesome killings.  Can they gather enough evidence and capture the people behind the killings or will there be more frustration?  A thoroughly enjoyable read, and a hard to put down book.