This novella focuses on a dangerous undercover operation that London Detective Inspector Mark Joesbury is participating in, and that was alluded to in the previous full-length novel in this series.

Mark is trying to pass as a bent policeman, because if his true identity were discovered by the Mideast terrorists with whom he is working, it would be fatal.

As the tension increases, Lacey Flint and Mark’s Uncle Fred, both of the Metropolitan Police’s Marine Unit, also get involved, and all of their fates hang in the balance.

Evaluation:. Unlike previous books there wasn't much character depth in this story, but it still will have appeal to fans of the series. ( )

Reading this short story immediately after the fourth book worked really well. The plot was a little familiar from that book, and suited the length of the story well. Great ending. ( )

Like most “Flinties” I’ve been battling withdrawal from Ms. Bolton’s Lacey Flint series. In lieu of a full course, here’s a little snack to relieve the symptoms.

It begins with Mark Joesbury steering an RIB full of terrorists down the Thames on a beautiful summer’s night. Enough hints are dropped to make us dread the potential carnage to follow but who/what is the target?

The story then goes back 3 weeks in time & we get the scoop on Mark’s latest undercover assignment for Scotland Yard. It’s a shortie so I won’t go into too much detail but suffice to say Mark has to deal with some seriously unpleasant men, snarly Middle East politics, rats on his team & a direct threat to Lacey.

The events fit neatly in between the pages of the last full length book, seamlessly filling the holes of what was left unsaid. It’s a short but tense ride with characters we’ve become so invested in, especially when the target is revealed. And with the final sentence, Ms. Bolton delivers a little gift for long suffering fans.

"Dead Woman Walking” is her new stand alone due out in April. But I miss this series. Maybe if we all write her a letter & cc it to Santa……? ( )