DI Daniel Skelgill and DS Emma Jones have successfully put another case to bed, and are having breakfast when DS Leyton informs them that a climber has died north of Keswick. Skelgill immediately attends the scene and orders in a scene of crime team. The dead man doesn’t have appropriate climbing clothes nor climbing gear other than a rope, which is wrapped around his neck.
If he’s not a climber, how did he get there, and why are there no injuries, which would go with a fall? When Skelgill goes to the victim’s home, he finds nothing that will help. An old crone that lives nearby tells him that witches have taken him.
The pathology report indicates that the victim died of asphyxiation, and not by the rope around his neck.
Then another body is found in similar circumstances. Skelgill quickly determines that the rope around the neck of this man is from the same climbing rope. From the length of the rope used on the two victims, DS Leyton points out that there could be two more victims to come.
Fortunately, they manage to identify both bodies. The only things that they have in common is that they are loners and neither is a climber. DS Jones suggests that there might be a sexual aspect to the killings. Skelgill is unsure what to make of that idea.
Then a third body is discovered. Once again the body has the same rope on it. DS Leyton wonders if the local tarns play a role as each body has been found near one. Who is next on the list of the killer?
Author Bruce Beckham has hinted at who the killer might be, but not the why. DI has an idea, but it may mean that his life will be in jeopardy. Beckham has the solution as to how Skelgill will get out the mess before his chief hands the case over to DI Smart. A good quick read in this series.
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