Shortly after Peter meets history professor Barney Winkler, whose book on Cold war Germany arouses dangerous interest from former Stasi agents, his German guest and ex-associate Leon Falke is found fatally stabbed in his university office, possibly mistaken at night for Winkler, who soon disappears, his car being dumped in the sea. Dalziel must return from his romantic weekend in a fancy Scarborough hotel, dining and cavorting with old flame Florence Stockton, an incorrigible liar, greedy seducer and sort of a black widow, who also knew Winkler better then she admits in their Vienna days, and plays dangerous games, also involving a violent accomplice.
—KGF Vissers