Emma Rhodes has categorized herself as a Private Resolver'. What this means she will take on the investigation of any situation and promise it's resolution in 2-3 weeks. If she is not successful, which of course never happens the client is not obliged to pay her. Her fee is 20,000 pounds and the client a is always willing to pay up.

She does well enough at her work that she is able to keep a small house in London, New York and on the sunny coast of Portugal known as the Algarve. She is relaxing here in Vila do Mar after a grueling case when she promises to investigate the death of a young American minister who was found drowned. He was an excellent swimmer and hated drugs so when the verdict is suicide after heavy cocaine use the parents know something is fishy.

Emma is perfectly placed to help out because she knows the area and most of it's denizens and what she discovers shocks even her.

The pace is rapid with a satisfactory ending for all but the parents of the dead man of course. This series of books is very hard to come by but they are enjoyable and different from the usual. Emma might be a little too perfect for some, but she makes it work.

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