Praise for Peter Lovesey: “Lovesey’s restrained wit and charming cast ensure him a place in the winner’s circle.”—Entertainment Weekly “A master of black humor and macabre plot twists.”—The New York Times Book Review “One of Britain’s foremost mystery novelists.”—Houston Chronicle “Lovesey is a master.”—The Washington Post Book World “One of the delights of contemporary crime fi ction.”—The Wall Street Journal Gemma loathes her sleazy boss; Jo is her confidante. On a double date with Rick and Jake, they discuss forming a mutual murder society, in jest of course. The next day, Jo, walking on Selsey Beach, discovers the corpse of a drowned woman, a stranger. But one of the men in the lineup at the police station is Gemma’s date Jake, who Jo rather fancies. Then Gemma and Jo discover the corpse of Fiona, Gemma’s annoying colleague from work. And Gemma’s boss is missing. When an older woman whom Rick was involved with is drowned in her pool, the police begin to close in. Can this outbreak of deaths by drowning be coincidental? Or has the joke gone too far? Peter Lovesey has been awarded the Silver, Gold, and Diamond Daggers by the British Crime Writers’ Association. This is his third mystery featuring Inspector Hen Mallin.