Death . . . and taxes

Willow King, civil servant, and Cressida Woodruffe, author of sweeping romances, are one and the same. But it is the former who's called into play when she is asked to probe the case of Fiona Fydgett, a famous art historian whose tax affairs are under investigation by Inland Revenue. By all accounts, Fiona killed herself—and whispers of harassment by the tax office needs to be explored.

But when Willow's police officer husband is mysteriously shot, and a fire in the tax office kills the investigator on the Fydgett case and nearly kills Willow, a simple case turns both urgent and very personal . . .

'A strong heroine, an inventive plot with an unexpected climax . . .' Booklist

'. . . clever, unpredictable and thoroughly absorbing.' Publishers Weekly

'An elegant sleuth.' Cosmopolitan