We have reached the end of the line with George Gently. Approaching retirement, Gently is approached by the head of the anti corruption unit to examine an unsolved case of a young woman who was murdered four years earlier in County Durham.
Up and coming local Labour MP, Michael Clements is somehow being put in the frame for the murder as he knew the dead woman and he is also causing waves with his third way rhetoric. Even the establishment seems to be wary of him and Gently becomes aware of this as one of the security services henchman might had been involved in the death of his own wife.
Bacchus and his new assistant Rachel Coles investigate the killing of a scab worker crossing a picket line. What might be a death caused by a violent striker turns out to be more sinister again with government agents being involved.
A striking look at 1970s industrial relations and the sinister side of the security services, the type which tried to nobble Prime Minister Harold Wilson a few years later.
It might not be a satisfactory ending but I think there was little else where Gently could go. At least we also get to see a more mature Bacchus who finally has some of Gently's wisdom rub off on him.