London, 1956. The body of a Royal navy diver floats near a Russian battleship in Portsmouth, giving every excuse for both sides to refreeze the Cold War.

Written by 'a sublimely elegant historical novelist as addictive as crack'- Daily Telegraph

The Inspector Troy series is perfect for fans of Le Carré, Philip Kerr and Alan Furst.

London, 1956.

Khrushchev and Bulganin, leaders of the Soviet Union, are in Britain on an official visit. Chief Inspector Troy is assigned to be Khrushchev's bodyguard and to spy on him. Soon after, a Royal Navy diver is found dead and mutilated beyond recognition in Portsmouth Harbour. What was he doing under the hull of Khrushchev's ship, and who sent him there?

Meanwhile, cold-blooded killings have started to follow Troy wherever he goes. Is it possible that the executioner is a fellow policeman, or, worse still, an old friend?

"This is a strange, thoughtful, quiet, intelligent spellbinder of a book, penetrating the very heart of betrayal." - Sunday Times

"An early candidate for Thumping Good Thriller of the Year . . . No angst, no darkness, just the joy of a plot racing along in overdrive." - Time Out

"A splash of Greene, a twist of Deighton, a small measure of history - Lawton has produced a thrilling cocktail." - The Times