Harry Barnett is back, and this time an innocent jaunt into the past turns into a puzzle that will change the way he views his military career. While clearing out his mother's house after her death, Harry happens upon two old RAF comrades who invite him to a Scottish castle where they had all been stationed on a research project. Curious to see his buddies and trying to avoid cleaning out the house, Harry agrees to go.

The gathering is quickly thrown into melancholy when one man dies on the train on the way to the reunion. Although it's suggested the death was a suicide, Harry is disturbed by a conversation he had with the man just before he died. More deaths occur and it becomes clear that Harry and his former business partner, Barry, are being tapped as lead suspects. The two men must travel back 50 years in their memories and find out what really happened when they were involved in the RAF research project. What they discover will guide them to a killer -- hopefully before he claims one or both of their lives.

The dark, weighted writing of Robert Goddard is a joyous journey into British literature. Is it possible the book itself is heavier than normal because of the content? I'm a fan of all three Harry Barnett books. Goddard creates a taut plot that weaves the reader into the pages until, gasping, we pull ourselves out at the end -- drained and entranced. Excellent read.