Somewhat odd, a very contrived locked room mystery, as if Donaldson is exploring the possabilities in the genre. Of course all locked room mysteries are contrived, but normally there is some kind of semblance of an explanation.

Mick and Ginny decide to flee hospital after Mick recieves some threatening phone calls during his recuperation from the events in the previous book. Ginny has arranged for them to provide 'security' to a Murder Mystery camp getaway. Apparently this will be a soft shoe job, and is sufficently isolated that none of the El-Senior's gang will be able to find them. A froecast of heavy snow means they are effectively cut-of from the outside world for a week. Unsurprisingly the first real body turns up shortly afterwards. A girl in Mick's arms is shot through a window - the killer must be from outside the house. Everything else is predictable form here on.

Donaldson doesn't write mysteries very well, they're ok, but too predictable in terms of plot. However what he has always done, and continues to do here, is write characters. Intense characters, driven by pain, guilt, fear and jealously. Dark emotions, and strong motivations. This is very much a book about relationships, 5 couples are at the getaway, and I'm not sure nay of them could be classed as normal. Mick and Ginny are still working things through, her guilt over his getting shot, and vice versa. The otehrs have different motivations but similar results- strain and tension leading to looking for comfort elsewhere, which brings its own problems. The tnesions created by the increasing bodycount only make this more notable.

As always Donaldson writes absorbing prose, but this is much more memorable for the characterisations than the mystery. ( )