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As sumptuous as the softest duvet, this is a novel to sink into, slowly, letting the six or so POV narrators take you on a journey — a winding journey, each of which will lead to something, — be it an interesting character interlude, or a major development to the novel’s central murder mystery.

What follows is more than six-hundred pages of almost pure character development. This is a read for those who enjoy detailed, intricate, beautiful prose, and an incredibly astute eye for what makes us humans tick, deep inside — warts, weaknesses and all. Although, as always, there is a mystery to be solved, readers of this series are well aware that more, much more, is at play here than a single murder plot-line. In this case, the murder mystery is set in atmospheric Cornwall, revolving around the ancient art of tin-smithing, played against the fortunes available through the current-day eco-mining of lithium. Underlying at all, a number of darker themes are lurking, including the hideously omnipresent exploitation of minors, women, and the vulnerable.

Between these pages, the reader will be presented with an opportunity to read more of DI Thomas Lynley and his background, with a peek, this time, inside the family manor, where Tommy, along with mother Daze, and sister Judith are facing some serious domestic challenges. Along with developments to the world of his trusty side-kick DS Barbara Havers, who is facing a personal crisis of her own.

One of my favorite authors, it has been far too long since the last DI Lynley mystery was released. This reader, for one, hopes the wait for the next is not nearly as long.

A library read, and one well worth sitting out the wait-list, this latest installment, number 22 in the series, is a welcome addition to the set.