Some Sort of Justice: A DC Smith/Kings Lake Investigation

Grainger’s expert 17th Kings Lake mystery (the second to be published in the U.S., after An Accidental Death) follows DCI Cara Freeman as she probes a politically sensitive murder case. Freeman gets handed a hot potato when her boss, Harry Alexander, asks her to look into the death of Lord Freddie Thorpe. Though officials maintain that Thorpe died by accidental drowning, his sister, Caroline, insists there were inconsistencies in the investigation. Freeman’s initial probe confirms Caroline’s suspicions, and she unearths evidence that Thorpe’s death may be connected to a controversial arms sale and an extortion plot targeting a member of Parliament. Soon, though, Freeman comes to fear she’s been set up to fail, with Harry appearing to block her progress at every turn. Grainger expertly balances deep dives into his characters’ personal lives with intricate police work, resulting in a suspenseful mystery with palpable emotional stakes. This is everything a procedural should be. Agent: Simon Lipskar, Writers House. (June)