Grief-stricken in the aftermath of his wife's murder, Thomas Lynley cannot imagine how life will go on. He has left his job, his home, and all reminders of her behind him in London. Walking the cliffs of Cornwall, the last thing he expects to find is a body. At first sight, the young man seems to have died in a climbing accident. Tragic, but all too common in a place where nature is at its wildest, and the pathways are dotted with memorials. But Lynley cannot deny his instincts, and soon, against his every intention, he finds himself drawn into a murder inquiry. This time, as a potential suspect ...