Rod Lorton wants revenge. After his wife's death, he discovers unsavoury truths about her and her former employer, PR chief Ivor Newley. Called in to investigate Lorton's new-found enemy, private detective William Dougal uncovers a weakness to exploit: Newley's rare collection of coins, coins that would leave Newley susceptible to blackmail if the collection were to disappear . . . That was the plan. But the outcome throws up something far more sinister and infinitely more dangerous than Dougal could have expected. For instead of being met with a bundle of cash when he arrives to seal the deal, the only payment Dougal is faced with is a corpse.